For the first time, Robert Hannigan, outgoing Director-General of GCHQ, has talked about the organisation’s “strong partnership with our Israeli counterparts in signals intelligence”. He went on to say that the relationship “is protecting people from terrorism... not only in the UK and Israel but in many other countries.”

It is the first time that such cooperation has been acknowledged and Mr Hannigan added: “As we establish the new National Cyber Security Centre as part of GCHQ, we are building on an excellent cyber relationship with a range of Israeli bodies and the remarkable cyber industry in Be’er Sheva.”

During remarks made at a Conservative Friends of Israel reception on Tuesday night, Mark Regev, Israeli ambassador to the UK, said: “I have no doubt the cooperation between our two democracies is saving British lives.”