Britons stranded in Israel amid escalating regional tensions have criticised the UK Foreign Office for what they describe as a lack of adequate support and evacuation measures, as several other nations have acted swiftly to repatriate their citizens. With Israel closing its airspace due to increasing conflict with Iran and ongoing hostilities, tens of thousands of UK nationals remain trapped, facing growing dangers without coordinated rescue efforts.

Despite the Foreign Office issuing strong travel advisories against all journeys to Israel, it initially held back from arranging evacuation flights, advising British citizens instead to register their presence with authorities and to stay near bomb shelters. Many Britons, including young people like 19-year-old Miles Mackay, who was visiting friends in Tel Aviv, report feeling abandoned. Mackay told media outlets he felt “basically on his own” after seeking help and has contemplated a risky overland journey to the Jordanian border due to the absence of official evacuation plans.

Some families have resorted to organising their own departures. Jonathan Gold, visiting with his two adult children, was preparing to travel through the desert to Egypt amid the crisis. Such self-directed escape efforts highlight the perceived vacuum in government assistance faced by many.

The UK government has urged nationals to register via an official portal to facilitate emergency support and has deployed Foreign Office staff to strategic locations such as the Jordanian border to assist those able to leave by land. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has underscored the importance of this registration, citing it as crucial for safety planning. Additionally, there are ongoing efforts to enhance logistical support for evacuation through neighbouring countries, reflecting a shift towards more active intervention.

Recently, the Foreign Office announced plans to operate evacuation flights from Tel Aviv, with the first expected to depart shortly and further flights subject to security conditions. Eligible individuals are being contacted directly and advised not to go to airports unless instructed. The decision to initiate evacuation flights comes after many international airlines, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and others, suspended services to Israel amid security concerns. This suspension further restricted commercial exit routes, prompting renewed government action.

Meanwhile, the UK is reinforcing its diplomatic and military posture in the region. Prime Minister Starmer has hinted at the possible deployment of RAF fighter jets in support of Israel’s defence, a move framed as a contingency to ensure regional security amidst mounting tensions with Iran. The UK government is also engaged in international diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation, involving leaders such as the US President and Saudi Crown Prince. Financial and humanitarian support has been pledged, including funding to protect Jewish community sites in the UK and aid for Palestinian refugees affected by the conflict.

The Foreign Office has advised British diplomats’ families to leave Israel as a precaution, while embassy operations continue to provide consular services. Casualties among UK nationals have been reported, adding to the urgency of safe evacuation and assistance measures.

Other countries, including Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and Slovakia, have been more proactive in arranging buses, convoys, and charter flights to evacuate their citizens, intensifying pressure on the UK to match such efforts. The Foreign Office claims its actions are aligned with ensuring safety and adapting to complex and rapidly evolving conditions, though calls from those stranded insist on faster and clearer government involvement.

The situation remains fluid, with British authorities balancing diplomatic, military, and humanitarian considerations while striving to protect their nationals amid a deteriorating security landscape in Israel and the broader Middle East.

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Source: Noah Wire Services