The UK government has issued a formal advisory against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories following a sharp escalation in military hostilities between Israel and Iran. The updated warning from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) reflects growing concerns over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the region.
The FCDO cited a “fast-moving situation that poses significant risks” and warned that conditions could worsen “quickly and without warning.” The new guidance replaces previous advice that discouraged only non-essential travel and comes after days of missile exchanges between Israel and Iran. Israel’s airspace remains closed.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy posted on social media platform X, saying, “My message to British nationals there is clear – your safety remains our top priority.”
The FCDO is also maintaining its advisory against all travel to Iran and has extended warnings to parts of Egypt, as tensions in the region mount.
Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military facilities, including nuclear infrastructure, on the night of June 12. Iran responded with retaliatory airstrikes, and both sides have since intensified their attacks. Iranian missiles struck areas in Bat Yam and Tamra on Saturday, while Israeli forces claimed to have hit over 80 targets in Tehran in overnight operations.
As a precaution, the UK government confirmed it is deploying additional RAF fighter jets to the Middle East, a move described by the Chancellor as a “precautionary measure.” Meanwhile, global oil prices surged on Friday amid fears that the conflict could disrupt energy supplies from the region.
British nationals currently in Israel and the Occupied Territories have been advised to follow local authority instructions and stay alert to further FCDO travel updates. However, some Britons stranded in the region say they feel unsupported.
James Eden, a 72-year-old grandfather from Newcastle who flew to Israel on a Christian pilgrimage earlier this month, told the Press Association he was stuck in Jerusalem with no clear way home. “The FCDO rang me and said there wasn’t a lot they could do,” he said, adding that he might attempt to reach Egypt for a return flight to the UK but had been told the department would not be able to help him leave from there either.
In a statement, an FCDO spokesperson said the department was “in contact with a British man in Israel” and reaffirmed that it is “ready to support British nationals 24/7.”
With tensions running high and diplomatic efforts faltering, the UK’s latest advisory highlights the growing danger to civilians caught in the crossfire of one of the most volatile conflicts in the region in recent years.
