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Foreign Secretary announces that the UK is set to facilitate
flights to help British citizens wanting to leave
Israel
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The first flight is expected to leave Tel Aviv today
[Thursday]. Further flights are planned in the coming days,
subject to the security situation on the ground.
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The UK has also sent a Rapid Deployment Team to Israel to
assist British citizens on the ground
The UK government will facilitate commercial flights to the UK to
help British nationals wanting to leave Israel following the
Hamas attack, the Foreign Secretary has announced.
The first flight is due to depart from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel
Aviv today (Thursday 12 October).
Vulnerable British nationals will be prioritised for these
flights. At this stage we will contact those who are eligible for
the flights directly and British nationals should not make their
way to the airport unless they are called.
Since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, UK government officials
have been working around the clock in London, Jerusalem and Tel
Aviv to support British citizens in the country. A Rapid
Deployment Team has also been sent to Israel to bolster the
efforts of British consular officials.
The safety of all British nationals in Israel and the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPTs) continues to be our utmost
priority and we urge everyone to continue to follow our travel
advice. Those in Israel and the OPTs, including Gaza, are advised
to register their presence with the Foreign Office (Israel travel advice - GOV.UK
(www.gov.uk). 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.
Foreign Secretary visited Israel yesterday
(Wednesday) to reiterate the UK’s unwavering solidarity with the
Israeli people following Hamas’ terrorist attacks. He met senior
Israeli leaders to outline UK support for Israel’s right to
defend itself.
Notes to editors
- British nationals, including dual nationals, and dependants
if travelling with a British national normally resident in the
UK, will be invited to take up seats on the flights.
- These are paid commercial flights – our standard procedure.
Each ticket will cost £300. This reflects the costs of operating
the flight only.
- The children and other dependants of British diplomats will
also be given seats, as we have a duty of care to our
staff.
- While it is our intention to run these flights, security
considerations will always be paramount.
- In addition to our travel advice for Israel and the OPTs, we
also advise against all travel to parts of Lebanon.
