The Foreign Office has announced the organisation of flights to evacuate British nationals from Israel, with the first plane scheduled to depart from Tel Aviv on Thursday. In addition, a rapid deployment team is being dispatched to provide assistance to British citizens on the ground.

According to the Foreign Office, priority will be given to vulnerable individuals, and commercial flights will be facilitated to bring back British nationals attempting to leave the country. The government has advised that only those directly contacted and eligible for the flights should proceed to the airport, emphasising that individuals should not make their way to the airport unless specifically called.

The ongoing conflict in Israel has claimed the lives of at least 2,400 people, sparked by a violent and extensive attack by Hamas on Israel over the past weekend. Concerns persist for the safety of British citizens still in the region. Tragically, 26-year-old Jake Marlowe became the fourth confirmed British casualty on Wednesday, with a total of 17 UK nationals reported as either deceased or missing.

The Foreign Office has cautioned against all non-essential travel to Israel and has taken precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its diplomats’ family members, who are leaving the country. The Israeli Embassy in the UK has indicated that approximately 100 individuals from the UK have traveled to Israel to serve in the military.