- UK evacuates citizens from Israel.
- Commercial flights suspended due to security.
- UK diplomats aid citizens.
The United Kingdom is organizing flights to evacuate British nationals who are detained in Israel, according to the Foreign Office.
Thursday will mark the departure of the first aircraft from Tel Aviv; additional flights are scheduled “in the coming days, subject to security.”
Those who meet the criteria for departure will be contacted directly, and British citizens are advised to refrain from visiting airports unless specifically summoned.
Additionally, a team of crisis-ready British diplomats has been dispatched to Israel to aid British citizens.
Since commercial routes are available, the UK government will not organise evacuation flights this week.
In recent days, however, flights have been suspended by British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Air France, Lufthansa, and Emirates.
Other developments in the UK:
Andrew Mitchell, the minister of international aid, stated that a review of financing for Palestinian refugees might result in the government initiating the transport of “vital humanitarian supplies in the vicinity of the region.” He stated the United Kingdom would “do whatever is required to contribute to the resolution of humanitarian issues.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak presided over a roundtable discussion on Israel policing at Downing Street in advance of the anticipated weekend demonstrations.
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Mr. Sunak has also pledged £3 million to aid in the preservation of synagogues, schools, and other Jewish community structures. King Charles has engaged in discussions with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis at Buckingham. According to palace sources, the King condemned “barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel” yesterday.
The Foreign Office will charter the flights arranged by the government; however, these are commercial services. A fee of £300 per passenger will be assessed.
British nationals, including dual nationals, and dependents traveling with a British national normally residing in the UK would be invited to occupy seats, according to a statement.
The first flight has been fully booked, according to a British representative at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
The passengers who have been assigned to join the aircraft have been notified through text message.
Several nations, including Poland, Canada, France, and Italy, have already concluded flights transporting Israeli citizens back home.
Earlier this week, the majority of airlines ceased direct flights between Israel and the United Kingdom. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways ended daily operations on Thursday after a BA flight returned due to security concerns.
People are currently facing difficulties in obtaining reservations for the limited number of operational commercial routes.
Laurence Julius, 67, and his wife Lyn are currently in Tel Aviv, where they were on a visit to family.
Despite registering with the Foreign Office, no communication regarding a flight has been received.
As the primary carer for his 92-year-old mother, who has severe health concerns, Mr. Julius wants to return to London. His children have volunteered to assist in her care while he is abroad in London.
“It’s not optimal that we are stuck here, to put it mildly,” he reiterated.
He stated that after a British Airways flight was cancelled, the airline “made every effort to reschedule us on every feasible route,” but all seats were “completely booked.”
Foreign Office confirmation was received on Thursday regarding the “precautionary measure” of family members of British diplomats departing Israel.
It reiterated that British nationals could seek consular assistance and that the embassy in Israel continued to function.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office stated that “The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to parts of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to advise against all but essential travel to all other parts.”
The Israeli embassy in the UK stated that at least one hundred “reservists and active duty soldiers” are believed to have traveled from the United Kingdom to Israel in order to service in the Israel Defence Forces.
In response to Hamas’ 1,300 weekend deaths, Israel has signalled its preparedness to launch a ground military campaign in Gaza.
Authorities say over 1,300 Gazans have died and 338,000 have been displaced since Israel initiated retaliatory attacks.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during a call for the country to maintain an open border crossing with Gaza for “humanitarian and consular reasons,” according to Downing Street.
