A British grandfather is considering fleeing Jerusalem by bus through the Negev desert to escape Iranian missile fire.
James Eden, 72, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, arrived in Israel last Monday for a six-day Christian pilgrimage. He is now stranded in a near-deserted city as missiles fly overhead and outbound flights are suspended.
The Foreign Office has updated its guidance to advise against all travel to Israel, warning that the situation could “deteriorate further, quickly and without warning”.
Mr Eden told the PA news agency: “They (the FCDO) rang me and said there wasn’t a lot they could do.
“They can’t put on any planes because the airspace is shut – all they can do is send out alerts and keep track of us.”
When the grandfather-of-four asked about crossing the border, officials told him he could travel to Egypt at his own risk.
“They said if I care to, I can” he said.
“They’re not going to stop me – but they’re not going to help me get out of Egypt either.”
The journey would mean a four-hour bus ride through the Negev desert to Eilat, before crossing into Egypt and trying to fly home from Sharm El Sheikh.
Temperatures in the region are expected to reach up to 35C this week.
“I’ve done that route before, 20 years ago, so I know it,” Mr Eden said.
“But once you step into Egypt, who knows what happens then? It’s a risk.”
Mr Eden, a retired accountant, had been travelling with friend Miki Mogyorossy, 49, from London, and spent the early part of the trip visiting religious sites.
But on their third night, they were jolted awake by sirens warning of incoming missiles, forcing them to shelter in a stairwell.
