British nationals who want to leave Israel will be offered charter flights from Tel Aviv as soon as airspace reopens, the government has said.
With the conflict with Iran continuing, Whitehall officials have been working to organise escape routes for the thousands of British and dual nationals in Israel.
Those who are holidaymakers, on business trips, visiting relatives or are otherwise temporary residents are most likely to be prioritised, but the Foreign Office said flights would be provided based on demand and the safety of all British nationals was its top priority.
David Lammy, the foreign secretary, said: “The UK will provide charter flights for British nationals from Tel Aviv when airspace reopens. Register your presence to receive further guidance.”
The Foreign Office has now pulled its embassy staff out of Iran, which continues to be hit by Israeli strikes. “We have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran. Our embassy continues to operate remotely,” it said.
Government advice in relation to Israel remains that British nationals should follow local guidance and take decisions on whether to leave based on their individual circumstances.
Thousands of people currently in Israel or the occupied Palestinian territories are understood to have registered their presence with the Foreign Office, but the government has not moved to advise a general departure or relocation to Tel Aviv.
Many of those registered are thought to be dual British-Israeli nationals who may not seek UK consular assistance, but a smaller number of people have made active requests for support.
A No 10 spokesperson said: “We are advising British nationals to continue to register their presence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, to be contactable with further guidance on these flights.”
People in Israel have been heading for bomb shelters since the Israeli government started bombing Iran and faced a counterattack. At least 24 people in Israel have been killed and hundreds wounded.
At least 657 people, including 263 civilians, have been killed in Iran and more than 2,000 wounded, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group.
The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know.
If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods.
Secure Messaging in the Guardian app
The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said.
If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select 'Secure Messaging'.
SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post
See our guide at theguardian.com/tips for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each.
Israel launched airstrikes that it said were aimed at preventing Iran developing a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials insist the country’s nuclear programme is peaceful.
Land routes are available out of Israel and some UK nationals have already left. The Foreign Office’s response has come in for criticism after it emerged that families of UK officials had been removed from Israel, while other British nationals have so far only been advised to remain and to follow local guidance.
The dependants of diplomatic staff have left as a “precautionary measure”, with staff remaining at the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem.
