Thousands of Brits trapped in Israel as flights out of the danger zone blocked

1 week ago 2

THOUSANDS of Britons were trapped in Israel last night as flights out of the danger zone were blocked.

Military chiefs have shut down the airspace until June 30 while attacks continue.

Smoke billows from a site in the city of Haifa following a fresh barrage of Iranian missile attacks[/caption]

An Israeli soldier beside a car wrecked in an Iranian missile attack[/caption]

PM Sir Keir Starmer was under pressure to launch a mass evacuation as Iranian ballistic missiles have killed 14 and injured 200 since Friday.

Ministers refused to be drawn on whether contingency plans were being drawn up to remove 44,000 UK citizens.

The Foreign Office put Israel on the “red list”, advising against all travel.

Holidaymaker James Eden, 72, travelled to Jerusalem on a six-day Christian pilgrimage — but said he was stranded last night.

The grandad, from Newcastle, is hoping to take a four-hour bus through the Negev desert and then cross to Egypt before flying home.

Mr Eden said of the Foreign Office: “All they do is send alerts.

“They’re not going to stop me — but they’re not going to help me get out of Egypt either.”

No10 last night said: “We are monitoring the situation closely and keeping all contingency plans under constant review.

“The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority.

“We now advise against all travel to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.”

Iranian ballistic missiles have killed 14 and injured 200 since Friday[/caption]

Emergency personnel operate after missiles are launched from Iran to Israel[/caption]