Foreign Office warns against all travel to Israel
The Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Israel in the wake of escalating conflict in the region.
Iran conducted a second night of ballistic missile attacks on Israel, leaving at least 10 people dead.
The new advice now puts Israel on the same level as Iran.
The Government changed its guidance on travel to Israel on Friday to warn against 'all but essential travel' to most of the country.
The Foreign Office had already designated some areas, around Gaza, the West Bank and the Golan Heights, as red zones. But the zone has been extended to the whole region, meaning that the advice is against all travel to the country.
The department's website read: 'FCDO currently advises against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.'
It added: 'Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.'
The department told those already in the country to follow local authorities' advice.
Britain is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to bolster the RAF's presence to defend British interests should the skirmishes between the two powers escalate.
It is understood that the UK is deploying more fast jets, such as Typhoons, as well as air-to-air refuelling craft to support defensive operations.
Israel unilaterally moved against Iran on Friday, launching hundreds of bombing strikes that continued into Saturday.
The Israel Defense Forces said its mission was to extinguish the 'immediate existential threat' presented by Iran and that it would not stop until that was accomplished.
Tehran retaliated on Friday with rocket and drone attacks against the Tel Aviv area, which left three civilians dead and 172 injured.
Relations between Labour and Israel have deteriorated in recent days, after Britain sanctioned two Israeli ministers last week.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the Prime Minister refused to be drawn on whether British planes could join the Americans in defending Israel from future Iranian strikes.
He said: 'I will always make the right decisions for the UK. We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support.'
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