**British Grandfather Faces Desert Escape as Violence Escalates in Israel**
A British grandfather from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, currently stranded in Jerusalem amid rising regional violence, is contemplating a perilous journey through the Negev desert as one of his only remaining options to leave Israel. James Eden, 72, had initially travelled to the country for what was meant to be a peaceful six-day Christian pilgrimage. However, the rapidly changing security situation has left him and other foreign travellers unable to return home and searching for alternatives.
After flying into Israel last Monday, Mr Eden found himself caught up in a situation neither he nor his family back home could have anticipated. Over the course of his trip, Jerusalem has become increasingly deserted, with the threat of Iranian missile strikes forcing residents and tourists alike to seek shelter. Further compounding his predicament, all outbound flights from Israel have been cancelled and airspace closed, leaving many, including Mr Eden, with few clear options.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) this week significantly toughened its travel advice, cautioning against all travel to Israel amid ongoing instability and warning that conditions could worsen suddenly and without prior notice. Mr Eden recounted how officials from the FCDO had contacted him, yet explained they were unable to offer evacuation assistance while Israel’s airspace remained closed. “They rang me and said there wasn’t a lot they could do,” he explained. “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 considering his immediate next steps, Mr Eden was informed by officials that it was possible to cross into Egypt via land, but doing so would come with risks and no guarantees of support from the UK government once in Egypt. “They said if I care to, I can,” he reported. “They’re not going to stop me – but they’re not going to help me get out of Egypt either.”
Should he decide to attempt this escape, Mr Eden faces a daunting route: a four-hour journey by bus through the arid Negev desert towards the city of Eilat at Israel’s southern tip, followed by a border crossing into Egypt and another attempt to secure a flight home from Sharm El Sheikh. With temperatures forecasted to reach 35°C and uncertainties about safety crossing the border, the journey would pose considerable risks, particularly for someone of Mr Eden’s age. “I’ve done that route before, 20 years ago, so I know it,” he said. “But once you step into Egypt, who knows what happens then? It’s a risk.”
Originally, Mr Eden had been travelling with a friend from London, Miki Mogyorossy, 49, and had spent the early days of their journey exploring religious sites around Jerusalem. However, on the third night of their tour, the pair were startled awake by emergency sirens, alerting them to incoming missiles. They were then forced to take shelter in a stairwell, experiencing firsthand the immediate dangers now facing civilians in the city. Since that night, Jerusalem, normally bustling with tourists and locals, has taken on an eerie quietness. “It’s like a ghost town,” Mr Eden remarked.
Mr Eden has since relocated to a hotel near Jerusalem’s Old City, where he remains in regular contact with the British embassy, though he emphasises that their support has been limited to issuing updates and keeping records of his whereabouts. “They said, ‘we’ve got your name, we know you’re there – keep us updated’. But there’s not much else,” he said. The uncertainty and stress are palpable, as is his desire to return home. “I’ve got two weeks of medication with me. I was enjoying myself, but now I just want to go home.”
The Foreign Office, acknowledging the fast-changing situation, stated, “We’re in contact with a British man in Israel. The situation is fast-moving and we urge British nationals in the region to monitor updates to FCDO Travel Advice. We stand ready to support British nationals 24/7.”
This story highlights the vulnerability of British citizens stranded abroad during international crises, and raises questions about the effectiveness and limitations of government efforts to assist nationals in conflict zones. With tensions in the Middle East remaining high, it underscores the risks travellers face and the importance of staying informed through official channels.
As Mr Eden weighs up whether to risk the bus journey across the Negev, he, like many others, waits anxiously for a safe route out—and for the moment when he can finally return home to his family in Newcastle.