The UK is arranging charter flights to return British nationals from Israel once Israeli airspace re-opens, the foreign secretary has said. David Lammy confirmed the government was working with the Israeli authorities to provide flights out of Tel Aviv airport, the number of which will be based on demand. Israeli airspace is currently closed due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The two nations have exchanged waves of air strikes since Israel targeted military and nuclear sites, as well as military commanders and nuclear scientists, a week ago. The statement came as Lammy arrived in Geneva for talks with Iran, in the hopes of negotiating an agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme. British nations who wish to return home from Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories have been advised to completea formwith their email and UK passport number. Lammy said this was to "register their presence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to be contacted with further guidance on these flights". Flights will only be provided to those who hold a UK passport, the Foreign Office said. Land routes out of Israel remain open and Lammy said UK staff will be on hand to support British nationals who have crossed the border - including providing transportation to nearby airports. Earlier, the Foreign Office said families of staff at the UK embassy in Tel Aviv and the British consulate in Jerusalem had been temporarily withdrawn "as a precautionary measure". The talks in Geneva with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will also include top diplomats from the EU, Germany and France.They are Iran's first face-to-face discussions with Western counterparts since the conflict began last week. Ahead of the meeting, Lammy said "a window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution". The conflict began on 13 June, when Israel launched a series of attacks across Iran, stating that they were to prevent Iran producing a nuclear weapon. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful. Tehran retaliated by launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel, and the two havetraded strikes in the days following. Several other countries have initiated complex evacuation operations. Australia is repatriating around 1,500 nationals from Iran and 1,200 from Israel. Some Australians have already left Israel on a ship to Cyprus. China has evacuated more than 1,600 citizens from Iran and several hundred from Israel, its foreign ministry says, advising nationals to leave via land routes. India has said it plans to evacuate nationals in Israel who wish to leave, while Japan is sending two military aircraft to Djibouti in preparation for the evacuation of its citizens from both Iran and Israel. Meanwhile, around 3,000 Pakistanis have left Iran since hostiles began.
UK preparing to charter flights from Israel, Lammy says
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"UK Government Plans Charter Flights for Nationals in Israel Amid Ongoing Conflict"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The UK government is actively arranging charter flights to facilitate the return of British nationals from Israel as soon as Israeli airspace reopens. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced that discussions are underway with Israeli authorities to establish flights from Tel Aviv airport, with the number of flights being determined by the demand from those wishing to return. Currently, Israeli airspace is closed due to escalating conflict with Iran, which has seen both nations exchanging air strikes following Israel's military actions targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites a week earlier. In light of this situation, British nationals in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories have been instructed to fill out a registration form that includes their email and UK passport number. This measure aims to ensure they can be contacted with further details regarding the evacuation flights. The Foreign Office has specified that only individuals holding a UK passport will be eligible for these flights, and alternative land routes remain open for those seeking to leave the region.
In addition to arranging flights, Lammy confirmed that UK staff would be available to assist British nationals who manage to cross borders, providing necessary support, including transportation to nearby airports. As a precautionary measure due to the ongoing tensions, the families of staff at the UK embassy in Tel Aviv and the British consulate in Jerusalem have been temporarily withdrawn. Concurrently, Lammy is in Geneva for diplomatic talks with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, aiming to negotiate an agreement concerning Tehran's nuclear program. This marks the first face-to-face discussions between Iranian and Western diplomats since the recent conflict erupted on June 13, which Israel claims is necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. In the broader context, other nations are also conducting evacuation operations. Australia, for example, is repatriating around 1,500 nationals from Iran and 1,200 from Israel, while China has evacuated over 1,600 citizens from Iran and several hundred from Israel. These developments highlight the international response to the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the region.
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