UK military assets, including Royal Navy vessels and a company of Royal Marines, are to be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean to support Israel, Downing Street has announced.
Maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft will begin flying in the region from Friday to track threats to regional stability, including monitoring activity such as the “transfer of weapons to terrorist groups”.
A Royal Navy task group will be moved to the eastern Mediterranean next week as a contingency measure to support humanitarian efforts.
The military package includes P8 aircraft, surveillance assets, two Royal Navy ships - RFA Lyme Bay and RFA Argus - three Merlin helicopters and a company of Royal Marines.
The British armed forces will be on stand-by to “deliver practical support to Israel and partners in the region, and offer deterrence and assurance”, No 10 said.
The UK government is also organising flights to get British nationals out of Israel as the war with Hamas rages.
The first flight was set to leave Tel Aviv later on Thursday, the Foreign Office said.
Earlier, Israel warned that Gaza will not be supplied with power, water or food until the hostages taken by Hamas are freed. Israel closed off supplies to Gaza on Saturday following the attack by Hamas militants.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to “crush and destroy” the militant group.
It is estimated that the attacks in Israel have killed 1,300 people, while at least 1,300 have also died in Gaza.
