UK preparing charter flights out of Israel for British nationals

The UK is preparing charter flights to evacuate British nationals from Israel as the conflict in the Middle East deepens.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy has said the government is working to make the flights available to leave Israel from Tel Aviv once airspace reopens. Mr Lammy said that "flights will be available based on the level of demand".

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer and the government have advised Britons in the country to register their presence with the foreign office. Follow the latest updates on the Israel-Iran war A Downing Street spokesman said on Friday morning that it was closely monitoring the "fast-moving" situation.

They added: "We are advising British nationals to continue to register their presence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, to be contactable with further guidance on these flights." Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani added that ground convoys were being organised to bring Italians out of Iran, and a special charter flight was scheduled for Sunday to depart from Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt to bring out any Italians from Israel. It comes as Mr Lammy, along with his French and German counterparts and the EU's foreign policy chief, attend a meeting with Iranian minister Abbas Araghchi in Geneva.

Ahead of the talks, Mr Araghchi said there would be no negotiations on resuming talks on a nuclear deal with the US "until Israeli aggression stops". Israel began strikes against Iran last Friday, claiming Tehran was on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, and has struck nuclear sites, military bases and civilian areas.

Iran insists its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes. It has retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel.

Read more:Peaceful end to Iran's nuclear plans unlikely - here's whyTrump says he 'may or may not' strike IranKremlin: Regime change in Iran is 'unacceptable' Since conflict broke out last week, the Human Rights Activists News Agency, US-based human rights organisation that tracks Iran, said Israeli air attacks have killed more than 600 people in Iran - including military chiefs and nuclear scientists. At least two dozen Israeli citizens have been killed by Iranian attacks, Israel has said..