Tel Aviv: Thousands of Britons are stranded in Israel and unable to leave, as Iran and Israel continue to attack each other in an intensifying conflict that has been ongoing for days. The Israeli airspace is closed until further notice and all flights have been grounded, with no sign of an imminent pause in hostilities.
According to BBC, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel over the past few days in retaliation for Israeli strikes on its military infrastructure on Friday. Deborah Claydon, 41, a teacher from Hertfordshire, flew to Israel last Wednesday for what was supposed to be a three-day trip to attend her cousin's wedding. She now finds herself trapped in Herzliya on Israel's central coast with her 81-year-old mother, as missiles fly overhead.
Three hours after they returned from the wedding last Thursday evening, Claydon told the BBC, "we heard sirens and had to go to the bomb shelter." She described the trip as "a trip of two halves: from elation to fear." Every night since, Ms. Claydon has been woken multiple times by alarms warning of incoming missiles and a countdown to get to a shelter. They are fortunate, she says, as their hotel has a well-equipped shelter, but "it's scary and a lot of people are panicky."
At least 24 people have been killed in Israel since Friday, according to the Israeli prime minister's office. Iran's health ministry reported that Israeli strikes had killed more than 200 people across the country as of Sunday. As hostilities entered the fifth day on Tuesday, both countries vowed further retaliation.
Tel Aviv's main international airport was shuttered on Friday and will not open until further notice, authorities have said. All flights to and from Israel have been suspended, with thousands cancelled. Around 40,000 tourists are stuck in the country, Israel's Ministry of Tourism has indicated. Among them are those who travelled to Tel Aviv for its annual Pride parade, which was cancelled after hostilities broke out.
Some people are considering leaving Israel via land crossings to neighbouring Jordan or Egypt and getting flights from there. On Tuesday, Ms. Claydon, along with a group of tourists from other countries, began a journey by car to the border with Egypt, where she plans to travel to Sharm El-Sheikh and fly home. She stated it is "too risky" to bring her mother, who will stay with her brother in a neighbouring town.
Hannah Lyons-Singer, 43, arrived in Jaffa last Tuesday to care for her father, who was hospitalised while on holiday in Israel with her mother. A few hours after he was discharged following a heart procedure, "war broke out," she says. The mother-of-three from London said the situation was a strain on her elderly parents, particularly as her father should be recuperating.
Ms. Lyons-Singer is desperate to get home to her children, and her father requires further treatment in the UK, but making the hours-long journey to the border is not feasible in his current condition. She has called on the UK Government to better support British citizens to return home, stating, "There's no guidance other than a warning not to travel to Israel."
Howard Youngerwood, 79, from London, travelled to Israel earlier this month for his granddaughter's Bat Mitzvah. The Jewish coming-of-age ceremony was cut short when hostilities erupted, and they were ordered to evacuate the kibbutz near Jerusalem. He described the situation as exhausting and taking a toll, especially when hearing about the casualties.
Since their flight was cancelled on Friday, Youngerwood and his family have been in and out of shelters. On Monday, after a massive explosion near their shelter, their hotel announced it was closing, advising them to seek a safer shelter. He expressed frustration at the lack of support from the British Consulate and Embassy.
The Foreign Office (FCDO) has advised against all travel to Israel due to the "fast-moving situation" and has urged Britons to register their presence and pay close attention to travel advice. Other nations also face challenges, with Poland and Germany taking measures to evacuate their citizens. Meanwhile, 100,000 Israelis are estimated to be abroad, unable to return home.