London, Thanasis Gavos

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak has convened the emergency response committeeknown as Cobra, to discuss the situation and the British response to developments in the Middle East.

The prime minister’s meeting of top security and intelligence ministers and officials will take place later on Monday in Downing Street.

The British government and the leadership of the opposition Labor Party have collectively condemned the Hamas attack.

In its updated travel advice to British nationals, the Foreign Office warns of “large-scale” fighting in southern Israel and on the border with Gaza, indiscriminate firing, as well as kidnappings of civilians.

British nationals of Israel are urged to follow the instructions of Israeli security authorities and those planning to travel to the country are urged to speak to their airlines, although non-essential travel to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories is advised to be avoided.

There is also mention of the possibility of armed tensions in Lebanon and Syria.

As has been announced, 20-year-old British national from London Nathaniel Young who was serving as a corporal in the Israeli armed forces was killed in a Hamas attack.

Two more Britons are missing, Dan Darlington, who lives in Germany and was visiting Israel, and 26-year-old Jack Marlowe, who was reportedly at the music festival in southern Israel that was attacked by Hamas.