Israel: Warning to avoid all but essential travel as some flights resume

18.10.2023 - 22:51 / euronews.com / Rebecca Ann Hughes

Israel's war with the fundamentalist group Hamas continues to escalate after militants sprung a surprise attack on the country from Gaza on Saturday.

As a popular holiday destination and the source of much business travel, many travellers are wondering whether it is still safe to travel to Israel, or how to get out if they wish to leave.

Read on for full details on advice from European governments, which airlines are still operating flights and how to get assistance.

Rockets have been fired into Israel hitting cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and armed terrorists are present in the country.

The latest death toll stands at 2,700 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health officials, and more than 1,400 Israelis, report Israeli medical services. Nearly half of the population of Gaza - around 1 million people - are now displaced, says the UN.

Authorities have also confirmed the deaths of nine US citizens while 10 British citizens are feared dead or missing.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel guidelines for the affected region advising against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).

This means holiday companies with clients in the zone must bring them back as quickly as possible and halt all future trips until the advice is downgraded.

In particular, the FCDO now advises against all travel to:

The FCDO also warns that incidents have occurred in Tel Aviv, Be’er Sheva, Hadera, Jerusalem and the Old City (particularly at and around Damascus Gate, Herod’s gate, Lion’s Gate and the Chain Gate), Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, the Jordan Valley, at Israeli checkpoints, near settlement outposts, and around Palestinian refugee camps.

You should exercise particular caution when visiting these areas and only travel if essential.

Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) similarly advises travellers to avoid all non-essential travel to Israel as “ongoing attacks pose a significant security risk.”

“Please avoid all travel to Southern Israel, and continue to exercise extreme caution within Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem,” the DFA says.

The US State Department has increased its travel advisory for Israel, asking citizens to "reconsider travel."

“Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza,” the State Department said in the advisory. 

“Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities.”

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism says they are “monitoring the situation and are committed to