UK Arranges Flights for Stranded Britons in Israel

The UK is facilitating flights for stranded British citizens in Israel, according to the Foreign Office. The first flight is scheduled to depart from Tel Aviv on Thursday, with additional flights planned, subject to security conditions.

Eligible individuals will receive direct contact, and British nationals should refrain from going to airports unless specifically called. A team of UK diplomats, trained to handle crisis situations, has been dispatched to Israel to assist British citizens.

Initially, the UK government had stated that it wouldn’t organize evacuation flights because commercial routes were still available. However, several airlines, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Air France, Lufthansa, and Emirates, have suspended their flights in recent days.

The announced flights by the government will be coordinated by the Foreign Office but will operate as commercial services, with each passenger incurring a charge of £300. The invitation extends to British nationals, including dual nationals, and their dependents if they are traveling with a British national who is normally a resident in the UK.

Several other countries, such as Canada, France, Italy, and Poland, have already organized flights to repatriate their citizens from Israel.

Most airlines had ceased their direct flights between Israel and the UK earlier in the week. Virgin Atlantic and British Airways withdrew their last remaining daily service on Thursday, following a security concern incident involving a BA flight.

As a result, people have faced difficulties in securing tickets on the remaining available commercial routes. The Foreign Office noted that the families of British diplomats were leaving Israel as a precautionary measure, but emphasized that the UK embassy in Israel remained operational and could provide consular assistance.

A Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated their advice against all travel to specific parts of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and against all but essential travel to all other areas.

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