Britons stranded in Israel amid Iranian missile fire have told the JC they feel “utterly abandoned” by the Foreign Office and have received no practical help to leave the country.
The government has advised British nationals to register for shuttle buses organised by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism travelling into Egypt via the Taba border. But the arrangement does not apply to Britons who are resident in Israel or hold dual Israeli nationality.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government was undertaking a major effort to assist British nationals stranded across the region.
“This is one of the biggest operations of its kind, many times bigger than the evacuation from Afghanistan,” he said. “It is not going to happen overnight – but we will not stop until our people are safe.”
More than 140,000 people across the region have registered their presence with the Foreign Office, and some 4,000 have returned to the UK on commercial flights from the UAE.
The JC heard from a dozen Brits marooned in the Jewish State, all grateful for the support of the Israeli people but critical of the UK efforts to return citizens, having received little more than automated messages from the FCDO.
Andy Fairman, 40, who had been in Israel on a solidarity tour with his shul, Ark Synagogue in Pinner, said he felt “utterly abandoned” by the UK.
On Thursday, after sleepless nights on a car park floor sheltering from the bombs, he tried to go to the British embassy in Tel Aviv but was turned away by Israeli security.
“I was told that nobody could see me, despite telling them that we were British citizens in a war zone. We have felt utterly abandoned,” he said.
“There are six of us in our party, one is an elderly rabbi and his wife, and yet still, nothing, despite us sleeping on a car park floor for a week and shouldering the financial burdens alone.”
Fairman said he has received support from Israelis and rabbis in London, including Rabbi Charley Baginsky, but the only contact he has had from the Foreign Office has been three automated emails, one of which was about Oman.
“The British Foreign Office have been totally and completely missing in action. The actions of the British government have been a complete abdication of moral responsibility, duty and total abandonment of its citizens abroad. It’s utterly disgraceful,” Fairman said.
Jonathan Solomon, from Stanmore, said he had also only received “generic emails” after registering with the Foreign Office.
“We are stuck here until the airport opens, I’m afraid,” he said. His 10-day trip was supposed to end last Sunday.
Justyn Trenner, 61, from Hampstead Garden Suburb, said the Foreign Office had “love-bombed” him with messages “about how we are their top priority” but had provided “no actual support whatsoever”.
“Our Israeli friends and people who don’t know us [in Israel], have been wonderful on the other hand,” he added.
Trenner and his fiancée Caroline are currently staying in Zichron Yaacov in northern Israel. Health concerns mean the journey to the Egyptian border was not realistic.
“With our suitcases and all, it would take us seven or eight hours to get to the Egyptian border and then the challenge and effort, especially with imperfect health... is unappealing,” he said.
Trenner said the experience had deepened his admiration for Israelis living under threat.
“We are glad to share the experience and have better insight on the challenges of Israelis and our immediate family members. We can’t overstate our admiration for everyone here, especially all the kids protecting us in the IDF and all those making aliyah,” he said.
Deborah Shafier, from Finchley, arrived back in the UK on Tuesday night with her husband after crossing into Egypt independently. The couple had left their two children, aged 10 and seven, with family and were anxious to return home.
Shafier said they received no help from the Foreign Office and did not see any officials when they crossed the Taba border.
“We had a slight concern before going [to Israel] that we were rolling the dice, but you never really know when things are going to kick off,” she said.
They travelled south by local Egged bus to Eilat before crossing into Egypt on foot, which took about ten minutes.
Their taxi to Taba airport was given a police escort because they had come from Israel. Despite the circumstances, Shafier said she never felt unsafe. “I do not feel at any point that I was worried or in danger,” she said.
At the airport, the couple found themselves marking Purim in transit. “A very sweet man decided to read the megillah in the middle of the terminal and hundreds of people gathered around,” she said. “I don’t know what the Egyptians must have thought.”
Emma Yantin, from Elstree, said her 18-year-old daughter received no contact at all from the Foreign Office. She eventually left Israel via Jordan, flying to Athens on Wednesday, and is still making her way back to the UK.
Elsewhere in the region, Jewish Britons stranded in neighbouring countries have similar frustrations with the government response.
Carmella Gordon from Radlett is among thousands of Britons stuck in Dubai.
She said she was “disgusted” by the lack of action from the Foreign Office. “I have had one email from the government,” she said.
She was due to return home last Sunday, but has had four flights cancelled and is hoping her flight on Saturday will leave as scheduled.
The Home Secretary said the government was “working flat out with airlines and Gulf partners to help Brits get home.”
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