By Yoav Keren-Wikipedia
The UK government is arranging a chartered flight to evacuate British nationals from Israel next week, as regional tensions escalate following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
British citizens wishing to leave Israel have been asked to register their interest through online forms, but officials have warned them not to travel to the airport unless they are specifically instructed to do so.
Over the past week, the UK has been in close coordination with Israeli authorities to formulate plans for repatriating its citizens from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
This latest move follows overnight U.S. military strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites, a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. The airstrikes have intensified security concerns across the region and prompted several countries, including the UK, to step up evacuation efforts for their nationals.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has now issued guidance advising against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Previously, the UK had only advised against travel to certain parts of Israel.
The FCDO said additional flights could be arranged depending on evolving demand and the changing security environment but cautioned that “the ability to operate such flights may change at short notice due to the volatile situation on the ground.”
British citizens and their immediate non-British family members are eligible for the flight, which will depart from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. However, seats will be assigned based on priority and assessed need.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the FCDO specified that the flight is intended for “vulnerable British nationals and their dependents.” Passengers will need to ensure they possess valid travel documents and any required visas before boarding.
“The safety of British nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories continues to be our utmost priority,” an FCDO spokesperson said. “That’s why the UK government is preparing flights to help those wanting to leave.”
The government had updated its travel guidance on June 15, escalating its warning to advise against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The advisory came after Israel carried out a series of strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets.
Although the UK did not participate in the latest U.S. military operation, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds confirmed in an interview with the BBC that British officials had been informed in advance of the planned strikes.
Other countries have similarly initiated efforts to evacuate their citizens from the region.
India announced on Thursday that it was preparing a two-stage evacuation of its nationals—first by land, then by air. Meanwhile, the U.S. ambassador to Israel confirmed on Saturday that American-assisted departure flights had already begun.
China’s ambassador to Israel stated in a media interview that around 400 Chinese nationals, including students, had been successfully evacuated by Saturday. China is also carrying out evacuations from Iran, amid the growing threat of conflict.
Austria’s foreign ministry, in its latest statement, said it had helped evacuate around 120 people from both Iran and Israel, including citizens of allied nations.
As the security situation continues to evolve rapidly, foreign governments are racing to secure the safe passage of their nationals out of increasingly dangerous zones in the Middle East.
