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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/18/concerns-mount-as-brits-in-israel-told-to-stay-put-while-embassy-families-flown-out
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fears voiced as Britons in Israel advised to stay while embassy families depart | Fears voiced as Britons in Israel advised to stay while embassy families depart |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| UK Foreign Office causes confusion as it urges British nationals to register their presence but not to leave | UK Foreign Office causes confusion as it urges British nationals to register their presence but not to leave |
| The UK government removed families of Foreign Office officials from Israel due to security concerns but is continuing to advise British nationals to remain and to follow local guidance – prompting questions over whether the approaches are consistent. | The UK government removed families of Foreign Office officials from Israel due to security concerns but is continuing to advise British nationals to remain and to follow local guidance – prompting questions over whether the approaches are consistent. |
| While the dependants of diplomatic staff have left as a “precautionary measure”, with staff remaining at the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem, the broader travel advice has not changed. | While the dependants of diplomatic staff have left as a “precautionary measure”, with staff remaining at the embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate in Jerusalem, the broader travel advice has not changed. |
| British nationals currently in Israel are being urged to register their presence online, but are not being advised to leave. Instead they are being told to monitor Israeli government alerts and make individual decisions based on their location and circumstances. | British nationals currently in Israel are being urged to register their presence online, but are not being advised to leave. Instead they are being told to monitor Israeli government alerts and make individual decisions based on their location and circumstances. |
| Although thousands of people currently in Israel or the occupied Palestinian territories are understood to have registered their presence with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the government has not moved to advise a general departure. | Although thousands of people currently in Israel or the occupied Palestinian territories are understood to have registered their presence with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the government has not moved to advise a general departure. |
| Israel and Iran have exchanged fire over the past six days after Israel launched air strikes which it said were aimed at preventing Iran developing a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials insist the country’s nuclear programme is peaceful. | Israel and Iran have exchanged fire over the past six days after Israel launched air strikes which it said were aimed at preventing Iran developing a nuclear weapon. Iranian officials insist the country’s nuclear programme is peaceful. |
| The disparity in approach has prompted confusion and a growing sense of unfairness, particularly among those questioning why the government acted pre-emptively to protect its own personnel but not ordinary citizens. | The disparity in approach has prompted confusion and a growing sense of unfairness, particularly among those questioning why the government acted pre-emptively to protect its own personnel but not ordinary citizens. |
| It is understood that the FCDO believes the two positions are consistent, citing a distinct duty of care to diplomatic staff. | It is understood that the FCDO believes the two positions are consistent, citing a distinct duty of care to diplomatic staff. |
| The decision for family members to leave was based on the view that they are nonessential and more exposed to movement-related risks. | The decision for family members to leave was based on the view that they are nonessential and more exposed to movement-related risks. |
| For the wider public, the guidance remains to monitor Israeli government alerts and remain close to shelters where advised. | For the wider public, the guidance remains to monitor Israeli government alerts and remain close to shelters where advised. |
| Ministers say the overall threat level is being closely monitored, with consular teams deployed across Israel and neighbouring countries. | Ministers say the overall threat level is being closely monitored, with consular teams deployed across Israel and neighbouring countries. |
| The Foreign Office has said land borders with Jordan and Egypt remain open, and consular teams are in a position to provide assistance to British nationals who choose to leave Israel by land. | The Foreign Office has said land borders with Jordan and Egypt remain open, and consular teams are in a position to provide assistance to British nationals who choose to leave Israel by land. |
| But officials maintain that the threshold for advising a general departure has not yet been reached, pointing instead to the continued availability of commercial flights and overland border crossings into Egypt and Jordan. | But officials maintain that the threshold for advising a general departure has not yet been reached, pointing instead to the continued availability of commercial flights and overland border crossings into Egypt and Jordan. |
| The prime minister, Keir Starmer, chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday to assess the escalating situation in the Middle East and review contingency planning. | The prime minister, Keir Starmer, chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday to assess the escalating situation in the Middle East and review contingency planning. |
| A senior government source described the situation as “grave and volatile”, and said ministers were “working round the clock” with international partners to support de-escalation and keep British nationals safe. | A senior government source described the situation as “grave and volatile”, and said ministers were “working round the clock” with international partners to support de-escalation and keep British nationals safe. |
| “We want to de-escalate and do our first job – keep British nationals safe,” the source said. | “We want to de-escalate and do our first job – keep British nationals safe,” the source said. |
| More than 1,000 people have now registered their presence with the FCDO. Ministers say this does not indicate that assisted departures are being prepared, but that it enables the UK to better assess who is on the ground and what kind of support may be required if the situation worsens. | More than 1,000 people have now registered their presence with the FCDO. Ministers say this does not indicate that assisted departures are being prepared, but that it enables the UK to better assess who is on the ground and what kind of support may be required if the situation worsens. |
| While many of those registered are thought to be dual British-Israeli nationals who may not seek UK consular assistance, a smaller number of people have made active requests for support. | While many of those registered are thought to be dual British-Israeli nationals who may not seek UK consular assistance, a smaller number of people have made active requests for support. |
| The government has deployed extra consular staff to Egypt and Jordan, with rapid deployment teams on standby. | The government has deployed extra consular staff to Egypt and Jordan, with rapid deployment teams on standby. |
| Starmer has said that Donald Trump was interested in de-escalation in the Middle East, saying “nothing” he had heard from the president suggested Washington was poised to get involved. | Starmer has said that Donald Trump was interested in de-escalation in the Middle East, saying “nothing” he had heard from the president suggested Washington was poised to get involved. |
| However the US president told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday that he was considering strikes. “I may do it. I may not do it. I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.” This article was amended on 18 June 2025. An earlier version said that families of Foreign Office officials were flown out of Israel; in fact, they used land routes. |