Cairo: Thousands of Britons are stranded in Israel and unable to leave, as Iran and Israel continue to attack each other in an escalating conflict that has persisted 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 returning from the wedding last Thursday evening, Claydon and her mother heard sirens and had to go to the bomb shelter. "It was a trip of two halves: from elation to fear," she told the BBC. Every night since, she has been woken multiple times by alarms warning of incoming missiles and a countdown to get to a shelter. Although their hotel has a well-equipped shelter, the situation remains frightening.
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 said. All flights to and from Israel have been suspended, and thousands have been canceled. About 40,000 tourists are stuck in the country, Israel's Ministry of Tourism stated. Some are considering leaving Israel via land crossings to neighboring Jordan or Egypt to catch flights from there.
On Tuesday, 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-Sheik and fly home. She described the situation as "too risky" to bring her mother, who will stay with her brother in a neighboring town.
Other Britons, like Hannah Lyons-Singer, 43, who arrived in Jaffa to care for her father, are unable to travel by land due to their circumstances. Lyons-Singer called on the UK Government to provide better support for British citizens to return home, citing a lack of guidance beyond a warning not to travel to Israel.
The Foreign Office (FCDO) has advised against all travel to Israel and Iran, citing "a fast-moving situation that poses significant risks." An FCDO spokesperson stated that the safety and security of British nationals is a top priority, and the office is working to respond to the crisis and support those affected.
Tourists from other nations are also stranded, with some countries, like the Czech Republic and Poland, organizing evacuations. Meanwhile, authorities have advised Israelis abroad not to attempt land crossings due to security risks and to await safer travel options.