Israel-Gaza attacks: Salford councillor stranded in Jerusalem

The councillor is due to attend a meeting on Monday

A councillor who travelled to Israel with his wife and eight children before the Hamas attacks has said he is unsure how they will get back to the UK.

Salford independent councillor Andrew Walters flew with his family to Jerusalem to celebrate Yom Kippur.

He said he had witnessed "terrifying" scenes following the attack, with "missiles flying overhead".

He said he was scheduled to fly to Italy on Saturday but is not yet sure how the family will get to Manchester.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service from a relative's house in Jerusalem, he said: "People are struggling to get out of the country and are having to spend more than 10 hours at the airport, which sounds awful, but it's something I'm prepared to do.

"What I've seen here is terrible.

"Missiles flying overhead, in scenes similar to how my grandmother described during the Blitz in World War Two. It's terrifying."

Since Hamas began its assault on 7 October officials say the death toll in Israel has reached 1,200, while Palestinian health officials say 1,200 people have died in retaliatory Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.

Mr Walters said in the wake of the attack flights to the UK "are getting more and more scarce", with thousands of people scrambling to leave the country.

On Wednesday British Airways suspended flights to Israel due to security concerns.

"I was scheduled to fly to Verona in Italy, for a flight which has been brought forward to 4am. on Saturday," he said.

"If I get there, I've not figured out yet how I'm going to get back to Manchester from Verona."

He said he was due to attend a council meeting on Monday but it was "looking like I may not make it back".

He added: "I seem to be unlucky with flying. I remember being stuck in the USA during 9/11 22 years ago and stranded as a result of the Icelandic volcano."

Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]