UK Border Force officials have been sent out to Egypt to help evacuate British citizens trapped in Gaza who manage to get across the border, Rishi Sunak has announced.

The Prime Minister said about 200 British citizens in Gaza had been in touch with the Foreign Office ahead of the expected Israeli invasion.

Mr Sunak said he had highlighted the importance of allowing Britons to leave Gaza in conversations with both Israeli and Egyptian leaders since the conflict started.

Government figures “stand ready” to help UK citizens get back from Gaza and are “very keen” to help wherever possible, the Prime Minister said on Thursday.

But he also cautioned that the situation was “obviously complex”, with much of the discussion about the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt and how it can remain open. The crossing has been closed other than to allow limited aid lorries into Gaza. Egypt has blamed Israeli air strikes in the area for the border being blocked.

“When the moment arises, we can take it quickly”, Mr Sunak said. He said Border Force officials had been “prepositioned” in Egypt to help.

Mr Sunak said: “Alongside [supplying] aid, we also want to try and get our British nationals out of Gaza, for the hostages to be released.

“We recognise that for all of that to happen, there needs to be a safer environment, which of course necessitates specific pauses, which are distinct from a ceasefire.

“And that is why we supported the resolution at the United Nations yesterday which, among many other things, mentioned that.”