The first Britons evacuated out of Israel have landed back in the UK after a "long and intense" journey. The Royal Air Force (RAF) flight departed Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport with 63 British nationals and their family members on Monday afternoon, making a stop in Cyprus before landing at Birmingham Airport early on Tuesday morning. One passenger said he was grateful to personnel on the ground, but was critical of the evacuation plan which has followed many other nations bringing citizens home, including the US and Portugal. Israeli airspace has been closed - leaving thousands of Britons stranded - since the conflict started earlier this month when Israel attacked nuclear sites in Iran, prompting Tehran to respond with missile strikes. Passenger Max Radford accompanied his elderly parents on the first British evacuation flight. "It's been a pretty long and intense day", he said just moments after landing back in the UK on the RAF A400 military aircraft. Mr Radford emphasised that while he was "really thankful" to the RAF and Foreign Office staff, the evacuation plan was "shambolic every step of the way". He accused the UK government of seemingly "making it up as they go along", saying that more needs to be done to get British citizens out of Israel. "There are thousands of people - and 63 people on one flight, maybe once a day, is nowhere near enough," he said. Downing Street said that around 1,000 people had asked for a seat on an evacuation flight – a quarter of the 4,000 who have registered their presence in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Foreign Office. On Monday, the Foreign Office said further evacuation flights would be based on demand and the security situation. British nationals still in Israel have been urged toregister their presencewith the UK government. Mr Radford, who paid £1,050 for three tickets, also said it was "ridiculous" that the plane had landed in Birmingham, accusing the Foreign Office of choosing the destination because it would be cheaper than landing in London. The Foreign Office has been approached for comment. Recalling a moment of positivity during the flight, however, Mr Radford said he would "never forget" how passengers started singing the Israeli national anthem and God Save the King on the plane. "It just shows the togetherness and the spirit of the Jewish people of the UK," he said. On Tuesday morning, US President Donald Trump said a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was "now in effect". In a statement, the Israeli government said the country had agreed to Trump's proposal but would "respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire." Israel and Iran exchanged heavy fire before the ceasefire was confirmed. The Israeli ambulance service said four people were killed, and 22 wounded, as a result of Iranian strikes overnight. Tehran also faced a barrage of intense attacks, although the number of casualties is not yet clear.
First evacuation flight from Israel lands in the UK
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"First RAF evacuation flight from Israel arrives in Birmingham amid ongoing conflict"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The first group of British nationals evacuated from Israel has successfully returned to the UK after a challenging journey that included a stop in Cyprus. The Royal Air Force (RAF) flight, which took off from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, carried 63 individuals, including family members of British citizens. Upon landing at Birmingham Airport early Tuesday morning, passengers expressed their gratitude towards the RAF and Foreign Office staff for facilitating their return. However, some evacuees were critical of the evacuation process, describing it as disorganized and inadequate. Max Radford, who accompanied his elderly parents, voiced concerns about the UK government's handling of the situation, stating that the evacuation plan seemed poorly organized and insufficient given the number of British citizens still stranded in Israel. He highlighted the need for more flights, noting that the current pace of evacuations was far from adequate for the thousands of Britons still in need of assistance.
The context of this evacuation coincides with escalating tensions in the region, following Israel's military actions against nuclear sites in Iran and subsequent missile responses from Tehran. As the conflict has intensified, Israeli airspace has been shut down, complicating the situation for many foreigners in the country. The UK government has indicated that around 1,000 people have requested evacuation assistance, but only a fraction of those, approximately 63, have been accommodated in this initial flight. The Foreign Office stated that future flights will be arranged based on demand and security conditions. Meanwhile, international diplomatic efforts are ongoing, with US President Donald Trump announcing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Despite the violence, some moments of camaraderie were reported on the flight, as passengers united in singing national anthems, reflecting a sense of community amidst the turmoil. The situation remains fluid, and further updates on the evacuation process and conflict developments are anticipated.
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