The Foreign Office has updated their advice for those looking to travel to Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Jordan today (Thursday, October 19). The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FDCO) advises against all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) at present.
This is due to the ongoing conflict, following a large scale terrorist attack by Hamas in southern Israel. Hamas continues to launch rockets into Israel, and Israeli airstrikes have pounded locations across the Gaza Strip, including parts of the south that Israel had declared safe zones, reports PA.
The Israeli government has declared a state of emergency across the whole country. International borders, both air and land, in Israel and the OPTs could close at short notice.
READ MORE: 'My 6-year-old cousin has never known life outside of bombs raining down on Palestine'
Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
The FDCO advises against any travel at all to Gaza, the area within 5km of the Lebanon border, which the Israeli military has announced as a closed military zone and is prohibited, the Sheba’a Farms and Ghajjar, within 500m of the border with Syria (the ‘Alpha Line’), and the area close to the border with Gaza.
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.
The Israeli military announced on the morning of October 13 that the entire population of Gaza north of Wadi Gaza should relocate to southern Gaza within the next 24 hours. The Foreign Office is supporting this advice.
The booking portal for HMG assisted flights has now closed. Commercial International flights continue to operate from Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv and Ramon airport in Eilat but are limited and may be cancelled at short notice.
Egypt
The FDCO is advising against all travel to several areas around Egypt.
These include:
within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border, except for the town of El Salloum (where they advise against all but essential travel)
to the Governorate of North Sinai
to the northern part of the Governorate of South Sinai, beyond the St Catherine-Nuweibaa road, except for the coastal areas along the west and east of the peninsula
to the Ismailiyah Governorate east of the Suez Canal
to the area west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions, except for various areas - check here
to the Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid
If you are a British national in Gaza, wanting to enter Egypt, you must check the status of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) before you travel. The Foreign Office warns that movement to the Rafah crossing and beyond is at your own risk and that you should only travel if you judge it is safe to do so.
The Egyptian authorities have said all aid going into Gaza from Egypt must be channelled through the Egyptian Red Crescent.
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Jordan
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to within 3km of Jordan’s border with Syria.
The Foreign Office says: "The Israeli government has declared a state of emergency across the whole country. International borders (air and land) in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) could close at short notice. As a result, the crossings into Jordan from Israel might be closed at short notice."
In response to events in Israel and the OPTs, a number of demonstrations have taken place in Jordan and more protests have been planned over the coming days, including after Friday prayers. Recent protests have taken place in the vicinity of the Israeli and US Embassies as well as downtown.
Demonstrations can be spontaneous and there is a heavy security presence in place. The Foreign Office advises that you should avoid demonstrations and protests.
Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Jordan’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
The Foreign Office has also warned that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Jordan. There have been a number of incidents since 2016, some serious. Attacks could be indiscriminate including in places visited by foreigners, particularly hotels, shopping malls and tourist sites.
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