Three Governments Just Eased Their Travel Warnings For Israel

Ever since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which prompted the Israeli government’s military response in Gaza, airlines have canceled and resumed service to the Middle Eastern nation. 

After canceling it in the immediate aftermath, Delta  (DAL)  and United Airlines  (UAL)  resumed service to Tel Aviv in summer 2024 but resuspended it after fighting between Israel and the Islamist terror group Hezbollah escalated. 

While prior to the conflict the State Department advised U.S. citizens traveling to Israel to "exercise increased caution," the current advisory is to avoid all but essential travel.

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Japan, China, UK ease travel warnings about Israel

While Israel is continuing its military actions in Gaza, it reached a cease-fire with Lebanon in November. As part of the agreement, for 60 days Israel is to withdraw from the southern part of Lebanon while Hezbollah recalls its forces.

With life in mainland Israel relatively stable, three countries officially eased their travel advisories for their citizens. 

The U.K.'s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office states that it "no longer advises against all travel or all but essential travel to some areas of Israel and the West Bank but continues to advise against all travel or all but essential travel to other areas."

These other areas include Gaza or anywhere within 500 meters (roughly one-third mile) of its borders, the West Bank and parts of northern Israel bordering Syria.

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On Dec. 12 Japan lowered its travel advisory to Level Two from Level Three, making it among the first countries to do so.

In the four-tier system used by the U.S., the highest "do not travel" advisory is reserved for active war zones and authoritarian governments.

China followed a few days later with an update, saying that for most areas south of Ashkelon — a city roughly 37 miles (60 km) south of Tel Aviv — travel should be reconsidered but not necessarily avoided entirely.

Related: American Airlines makes a major reversal on its Israel flights

"Do not travel to Caesarea and northward, south of Ashkelon and west of Beer Sheba," the translated advisory for Chinese citizens reads. "Reconsider travel to the rest areas in Israel."

U.S. travel advisory for Israel holds steady

The advisory from the U.S. State Department has remained the same since early December. 

None of the three major U.S.-based airlines are currently serving the region, so Israeli flag carrier El Al  (ELALF)  is the primary airline for people traveling to Israel.

American Airlines  (AAL)  canceled service in 2023 and intended to resume it by October 2024. But the airline recently issued a statement saying it would not be doing so until sometime in 2025.

"To provide customers with certainty when planning travel to Tel Aviv, we are expanding our travel alert to allow customers whose travel plans are impacted to rebook their itinerary for travel involving a partner airline or cancel for a refund," the airline said in November.

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