UK to arrange flights for Britons stranded in Israel

The UK is arranging flights to get stranded British nationals out of Israel, the Foreign Office has said.

The first plane will leave Tel Aviv on Thursday, with more planned "in the coming days, subject to security".

Those eligible to leave will be contacted directly and British nationals should not go to airports unless they are called to.

A team of UK diplomats trained to operate in crises has also been sent to Israel to assist British nationals.

The UK government said earlier this week it would not arrange evacuation flights because commercial routes were still available.

But British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, EasyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Air France, Lufthansa and Emirates have all suspended flights in recent days.

The flights announced by the government will be arranged by the Foreign Office but are commercial services. Each passenger will be charged £300.

A statement said British nationals, including dual nationals, and dependants if travelling with a British national normally resident in the UK, would be invited to take up seats on the flights.

The Foreign Office confirmed earlier that families of British diplomats were leaving Israel as a "precautionary measure".

It stressed the embassy in Israel continued to operate, and British nationals could seek consular assistance.

A spokesperson for the Foreign Office said: "The FCDO continues to advise against all travel to parts of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to advise against all but essential travel to all other parts."