COUNCIL CHIEFS ISSUE STATEMENT ON THE CONFLICT IN ISRAEL AS TRAPPED COUNCILLOR URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO 'STOP MESSING AROUND' AND GET HIS FAMILY HOME

The UK government has announced that it will be facilitating commercial flights to the UK to help British nationals trapped and wanting to leave Israel following the Hamas attack.

In an announcement the foreign secretary said the first flights are due to depart from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv later today, following suspension of flights due to the ongoing conflict.

Vulnerable British nationals will be prioritised for these flights. At this stage the government are contacting those who are eligible for the flights directly and British nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they are called says the Foreign Office.

A Salford councillor trapped with his family in Israel called upon the government to act faster after his flight to Verona was cancelled just 30 minutes before it was due to depart.

Since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, UK government officials have been working around the clock in London, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to support British citizens in the country.

A Rapid Deployment Team has also been sent to Israel to bolster the efforts of British consular officials.

In a posting on Facebook and Twitter, Colleague of Councillor Walters, Mike McCusker, called upon pressure to be put on the government to act faster.

The news comes as Israel said there would be no humanitarian break to its siege of the Gaza Strip until all its hostages were freed, after the Red Cross pleaded for fuel to be allowed in to prevent overwhelmed hospitals from “turning into morgues.

Meanwhile, Salford City Council has issued a statement from Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, Councillor Gina Reynolds Ceremonial Mayor of the City of Salford and Tom Stannard, Chief Executive, Salford City Council regarding the events in Israel and Gaza:

The Israeli military is preparing for a possible ground operation in Gaza but the political leadership has not yet ordered one, Lt. Col. Richard Hecht told reporters this morning. The world can most certainly expect to see more blood shed before this conflict is over.