Israel-Hamas war: Israel issues advisory for citizens to not travel to Muslim countries amidst ongoing conflict

Israel-Hamas war: Amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Israel on Saturday updated its travel advisory for its citizens to not travel to Muslim countries. 

The statement issued by Israel's Prime Minister's Office read, "Avoid travel to Muslim countries for which travel alerts have been issued, including Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia, as well as Muslim countries with no travel alert, such as the Maldives."

• Avoid travel to Muslim countries for which travel alerts have been issued, including Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia, as well as Muslim countries with no travel alert, such as the Maldives. — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 21, 2023

In the advisory issued it has been advised to avoid travel to any Middle Eastern or Arab countries, including Turkiye, Egypt (and Sinai), Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco until further notice. 

Meanwhile, Israel's National Security Council issued new warnings on Wednesday against citizens travelling to Arab countries, singling out Turkey as the greatest threat.

Joint statement from the National Security Council in the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Israelis abroad are under threat — the level of the travel alerts to Egypt (including Sinai), Jordan and Morocco has been raised. — Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 21, 2023

The warning against travelling to Turkey is now at level 4, the highest threat level.

About ongoing conflict 

Notably, in a major development today, the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened to let aid into the territory for the first time since the deadly Hamas onslaught on October 7.  

Over 200 trucks carrying roughly 3,000 tons of aid, which had been positioned near the crossing for days, began heading into Gaza. Egyptian state television showed several trucks entering the gate.

After the explosion at a hospital in the Gaza Strip that killed hundreds of people, protests and skirmishes broke out in the West Bank, Lebanon and Jordan. 

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets to protest the explosion all across the West Bank. To control the crowd, the Palestinian forces in Ramallah fired tear gas at demonstrators who were calling for the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to step down.

The protesters are seeking the resignation of President Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority, over his conciliatory tone since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began earlier this month. 

- With inputs from agencies

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