SALFORD COUNCILLOR ANDREW WALTERS STRANDED IN JERUSALEM AMID CONFLICT IN ISRAEL

A Salford councillor is stranded in Jerusalem with his wife and eight children amid the turmoil in Israel with missiles flying overhead.

Independent member of the city council Councillor Andrew Walters flew out to the Middle East for the Jewish festival Yom Kippur a few days ago with his wife Chana and children before Hamas launched their devastating attack.

Speaking from his in-laws home in Jerusalem Councillor Walters told how flights back to the UK have all but disappeared and how he has witnessed missiles flying as the conflict has deepened.

He was due to fly back on Saturday and is due to attend a Salford community and neighbourhoods scrutiny panel on Monday.

“It’s looking like I may not make it back,” he said. “I was scheduled to fly to Verona in Italy, for a flight which has been brought forward to 4am. on Saturday. If I get there, I’ve not figured out yet how I’m going to get back to Manchester from Verona

“People are struggling to get out of the country and are having to spend more than 10 hours at the airport, which sounds awful, but it’s something I’m prepared to do.

“What I’ve seen here is terrible,” he continued. “Missiles flying overhead, in scenes similar to how my grandmother described during the Blitz in World War Two. It’s terrifying.

“I seem to be unlucky with flying. I remember being stuck in the USA during 9/11 22 years ago and stranded as a result of the Icelandic volcano.”

Councillor Walters said there are an estimated 60,000 British people wanting to leave Israel, but with flights so scarce there is little chance of it happening.

“How many jumbo jets would it take to get them all out,” he said. “I know that a British Airways jet was turned back, and flights are getting more and more scarce.”