Raising travel warning, US urges citizens to reconsider visiting Israel amid Gaza war

The US State Department announces that it has raised its travel advisory for Israel and the West Bank to Level 3, meaning that Americans are urged to reconsider travel there against the backdrop of the ongoing Gaza war.

Before the war, Israel and the West Bank were among places with a Level 1 travel advisory, which means US citizens are urged to exercise normal precautions when visiting such places.

The travel advisory for Gaza remains at a “Level 4 — Do Not Travel.”

Explaining the decision to raise the travel warning for Israel and the West Bank, the State Department says, “Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Violence can occur in Israel and the West Bank and Gaza without warning. There has been a marked increase in demonstrations throughout Israel, some with little or no warning.”