The UK government is preparing to operate a chartered flight next week to assist British nationals and their immediate family members in leaving Israel, as tensions in the region escalate following retaliatory military strikes between Israel and Iran.
British citizens have been instructed to register their interest online and are being warned not to proceed to the airport unless explicitly told to do so.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) emphasised that only those with confirmed seats will be permitted to board the flight departing from Tel Aviv, and places will be allocated based on vulnerability and immediate need.
The move comes amid rising security concerns following Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and subsequent US attacks on three nuclear facilities in Iran over the weekend.
While the UK did not take part in the US operation, government minister Jonathan Reynolds told the BBC that Britain had been informed in advance of the strikes.
The FCDO updated its travel guidance on June 15, warning against all travel to both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, citing the deteriorating security situation. This marked a significant shift from its earlier advisory, which only cautioned against travel to parts of Israel.
A spokesperson for the UK government said, “The safety of British Nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories continues to be our utmost priority – that’s why the UK government is preparing flights to help those wanting to leave.”
The flight will be open to British passport holders and their non-British immediate family members, provided they hold valid travel documents and visas.
The FCDO has stated that further flights could be organised depending on demand and prevailing security conditions, though it warned that “the ability to run flights could change at short notice” due to the volatile environment.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the FCDO said the flights are prioritised for “vulnerable British nationals and their dependents.”
Efforts to evacuate foreign nationals are being undertaken by multiple governments as airspace closures and military activity disrupt travel across the region.
Israel closed its airspace on June 13 following the launch of its military operation targeting Iran. In response, Iran and its regional allies launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks.
To facilitate repatriation, Israel announced it would reopen Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for a six-hour window on Sunday, allowing incoming international flights as part of its “Operation Safe Return.” The airport will permit landings between 14:00 and 20:00 local time (10:00 to 18:00 BST).
Several other countries have launched their own evacuation efforts. The US began assisted departure flights for its citizens over the weekend, while India announced it would extract its nationals through a combination of land and air routes.
China reported that it had already evacuated around 400 citizens from Israel and Iran, including students, and Austria confirmed the evacuation of approximately 120 people, including non-citizens.
With uncertainty in the region mounting, the UK’s chartered flight initiative is part of a broader international response aimed at protecting citizens amid a rapidly evolving and dangerous geopolitical crisis.
