The UK government said it is working with Israeli authorities to charter flights for British citizens stuck in the Jewish State, as Iran continues its assault with waves of ballistic missiles.
The scramble to put on flights comes after several other European countries have evacuated their citizens. Despite the announcement on Friday morning, it is unclear when the flights will depart.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said: “As part of our efforts to support British nationals in the Middle East, the government is working with the Israeli authorities to provide charter flights from Tel Aviv airport when airspace reopens, based on levels of demand from British nationals.
“British nationals should register their presence in Israel and the OPTs (Occupied Palestinian Territories) to be contacted with further guidance on these flights.”
"Land routes out of Israel remain open and UK staff are on hand to support British nationals who have crossed the border. This will include providing transport – subject to demand - to nearby airports for onward commercial flights.
“We continue to push for a diplomatic solution to avoid a deepening conflict.”
However, some British citizens remain frustrated by what they see as a slow response from the UK government.
Doreen Samuels, 74, from Pinner, travelled to Israel with her husband for a wedding. She says the official response from the Foreign Office has lacked urgency and imagination. She is keen to return home to her elderly mother.
“I’ve got a mum at home who is 97, and out of the blue this week the GP said she is in the end of life phase. I feel very guilty because I think maybe I should get on a camel and hop over to Amman.”
Samuels, a mother of three and grandmother of eight, said she is anxious about reaching the Jordanian border.
“We are hearing some horror stories about people getting stuck at the border, or people turned back because they look too Jewish, or having their Judaica stolen,” she said.
“If the UK government want to help, why don’t they put on coaches from major population centres and look after us until we reach the other side of the border. I would do that.
“If they say they are going to greet us on the other side of the Jordan border, do something to help us get there,” she said, adding “there must be more creative solutions.”
Samuels, the former chair of the Chevra Kadisha burial society, said she is prepared to recite Kaddish for her mother from Israel if necessary.
“I would not be in any rush to get home if it were not for my mum,” she said.
Though she can FaceTime her mother, who lives in a Jewish care home in Bushey, she has not told her that she is stranded in Israel.
“There’s not much I can do from here.”
Despite the missiles, Samuels said she feels physically safe in Netanya, where she has been sheltering in a secure mamad – a reinforced room in modern Israeli homes.
“Eventually we decided to sleep there because it was too much bother to keep running in overnight. You have to leave the aircon on overnight because it is a sealed room and it is airless.”
She described herself as “very sleep-deprived” due to repeated sirens, but added that she considers herself “very lucky” to be in an area not yet hit directly – and to have direct access to a safe room.
When she ran out of her prescription medication earlier this week, she was able to quickly secure more through an Israeli doctor. “The system here is incredible. Within half an hour there was a prescription for me.”
On June 17, she celebrated her birthday at a restaurant in Netanya. “We went out for lunch, I thought that I’m not going to let this spoil my birthday.”
