More than 100 people travel from UK to Israel to join fight against Hamas

By James Hockaday, Multimedia Producer

At least 100 people are understood to have travelled to Israel from the UK to serve in the Israeli military's retaliatory campaign against Hamas.

Those who have made the journey are "reservists and active duty soldiers" in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the Israeli Embassy in the UK said.

The announcement comes as the most recent conflict between Israel and Gaza enters its sixth day, with at least 2,400 dead on both sides.

At least 1,300 people in Israel have been killed since Hamas launched a surprise air and ground assault on Saturday morning, including many helpless civilians executed in the streets.

Meanwhile at least 1,300 Palestinians have been killed as Israel launches a retaliatory bombardment of Gaza, with the prospect of a ground operation inside Gaza looming.

With Israel facing one of its biggest threats since the Yom Kippur war, some Israelis in the UK who were under no obligation to return to their home country felt they had a duty to do so.

Arad, 24, was two weeks into his current term at City, University of London when news emerged of the Gaza barrier wall being breached and civilians being gunned down.

Some of his friends at home were at the Supernova music festival where more than 260 attendees were killed, while others were already serving in the military.

It didn't take long for Arad to make up his mind. He went straight to the Israeli embassy for help arranging a flight, and by Sunday morning he was on a plane home.

“Obviously waking up in London on Saturday morning wasn’t easy – seeing the news, seeing the WhatsApp messages from my friends - we were all shocked," he told ITV News.

“I decided that I wouldn’t have been able to stay there and continue with my studies and my everyday routine in London, so I decided to go back home."

Arad, who is studying business management and entrepreneurship and has lived in London for the past few years, carried out his Israeli national service from the age of 18 to 21.

He was under no obligation to return to his role as a tank commander, adding that the IDF has "plenty of soldiers", but still he felt compelled to join the fight.

“I would not feel within myself that I did everything I can. Because I was a soldier, it’s in my DNA, I’d trained for it for three years," he added.

Arad said some of his family living near the Gaza border have "experienced horrific things" and have friends who've either been killed or captured.

He himself had lost some friends at the Supernova festival, adding that "there’s not a single person in Israel who isn’t connected to the situation in some way".

“Since being here I feel much more relief, I feel like I can do something and participate," Arad added.

"It’s better than being in my living room and seeing all the horrifying videos and not being able to do anything.”

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region, with family members of some of those held hostage by Hamas giving an emotional press conference in London.

Among the speakers was Noam Sagi, who said he should be celebrating his mother’s 75th birthday but she had been kidnapped by Hamas, branding the attacks a “second holocaust”. He added: “These are peace-loving people who fought all their lives for good neighbouring relationships.

"If they will die for peace, they will take it. If they will die for war, that will be another travesty.”

At least 17 UK nationals are reported to be either dead or missing, including children, ITV News understands.

Among those dead is Londoner Jake Marlowe, 26, who had been working as a security guard at a dance music festival when Hamas gunmen murdered at least 260 attendees.

Other British nationals killed in the latest onslaught include Nathanel Young, 20, who was serving in the Israeli army, photographer Dan Darlington and 57-year-old Bernard Cowan.

The Foreign Office, which on Thursday announced it has organised flights to get British nationals out of Israel, has advised against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Meanwhile, Health Secretary Steve Barclay has insisted Israel has “the right to do everything it can” to rescue hostages in Gaza, amid reports the country is preparing to launch a ground offensive.

Asked on ITV’s Good Morning Britain whether he has fears over the level of Israel’s retaliation in Gaza and concerns there may be breaches of international law, Mr Barclay said: “We think international law obviously should be followed and civilian casualties should be minimised. “But we should also be very clear that the reason for this situation is because Hamas has taken hostages into Gaza and the Israeli Government has the right to do everything it can to rescue those hostages.”

International aid groups said deaths in Gaza could accelerate as Israel prevents the passage of food, water, fuel and medicine into the territory and after the region’s only power station ran out of fuel. The International Committee of the Red Cross said hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues when their generators run out. There have been calls for corridors to be established to allow aid in and civilians out to save lives. Prime minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Thursday and offered the UK’s support to try to keep the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza open for humanitarian reasons, Downing Street said.

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