Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrives in Israel in show of ‘unwavering solidarity’ following brutal Hamas assault – with at least 17 Brits dead or missing
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrived in Israel today in a sign of the UK’s ‘unwavering solidarity’ following the Hamas terrorist attacks.
Officials said he will meet survivors of the attacks and senior Israeli leaders ‘to outline UK support for Israel’s right to defend itself’.
Mr Cleverly said today that a ‘significant number’ of British-Israeli nationals had been caught up in the conflict, which has already claimed at least 2,100 lives on both sides.
At least seventeen British nationals are currently feared dead or missing, the BBC reported – citing an official source. Previous estimates put the figure at 10.
A Foreign Office spokesman: ‘The Foreign Secretary has arrived in Israel today to demonstrate the UK’s unwavering solidarity with the Israeli people following Hamas’s terrorist attacks.
‘He will be meeting survivors of the attacks and senior Israeli leaders to outline UK support for Israel’s right to defend itself.’
James Cleverly is seen in London this morning before he departed to the Middle East
Today, Israeli forces conducted 250 airstrikes in just one hour across northern and eastern parts of the Gaza strip. Pictured is blast wreckage near the Jabalia refugee camp
The UK and US governments have given firm backing to Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration in the wake of the incursion by Palestinian terrorists
Today, Israeli forces conducted 250 airstrikes in just one hour across northern and eastern parts of the Gaza strip.
The UK and US governments have given firm backing to Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration in the wake of the incursion by Palestinian terrorists.
READ MORE – Brit confirms his brother was among those killed in Israel
Mr Cleverly’s visit to Israel comes amid fears that the conflict, which has already claimed at least 2,100 lives on both sides, could escalate further.
The UK Government has not confirmed any figures for those believed dead or missing, pointing to the fast-moving situation in the region.
Among those known to have died is Nathanel Young, 20, who was serving in the Israeli army when he was killed during Hamas’s attack.
Bernard Cowan, who grew up around Glasgow, also died.
Jack Marlowe, 26, who went to the same London school as Mr Young, is believed to be missing, while photographer Dan Darlington is feared dead.
A post from Mr Darlington’s sister Shelley on social media said he was ‘murdered’ at Nir Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel.
His death has not been officially confirmed.
Nathanel Young, from London, was serving in the 13th Battalion of the Israeli Defence Forces when he was killed on Saturday
Bernard Cowan , who grew up around Glasgow, has also died in the conflict
Jake Marlowe is among those missing after he had been working as a security guard at a music festival that was targeted by Hamas terrorists
Mr Marlowe was providing security at the Supernova music festival in the desert near Kibbutz Re’im when the area was invaded by Hamas gunmen.
Meanwhile, Brits who remain stuck in Israel have accused the Foreign Office of not doing enough to get them out.
One London-based Jewish community leader revealed that he and his congregation have been forced to spend around £1 million paying for chartered flights back to the UK.
READ MORE – Israel launches 250 airstrikes on Gaza in one hour
The FCDO has not yet said when or if it will send over planes to help repatriate them out of Israel.
So far, only a single mass message has been sent out to all British citizens known to be in Israel, which reads: ‘Our priority is to contact those who are in need of immediate consular assistance or who have reported missing friends or family.
‘If you have reported a British family member or friend missing and still require information or assistance, please contact us.
‘If you are in need of a UK travel document to leave Israel and have not been in touch with us already, please see information on our website.’
Booking commercial flights back to the UK is incredibly difficult. While the airspace above Israeli and Palestinian territory has not been officially closed, airlines across the world have decided to suspend their flights from Israel en masse over safety concerns.
EasyJet, WizzAir, Air France, Lufthansa and Emirates have all suspended their flights from Israel to British airports in the wake of erupting violence.
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