travel israel from uk

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Warnings and insurance

This travel advice covers Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs).

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

FCDO advises against all travel to Gaza.

Areas near Gaza

FCDO advises against all travel to the area close to the border with Gaza that includes:

• south-west of Ashkelon
• south of route 35 and west of route 40 as far as Tlalim, not including Be’er Sheva
• west of Be’er Sheva
• north of route 211

The West Bank

FCDO advises against all travel to the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem and Route 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Northern Israel

FCDO advises against all travel to:

• within 5km of the border with Lebanon – the Israeli military has announced that the area is a closed military zone and entry into the area is prohibited
• the Sheba’a Farms and Ghajjar
• within 500m of the border with Syria (the ‘Alpha Line’)
• Beit Hillel
• Even Menachem
• Granot Ha’Galil
• Ramot Naftali
• She’ar Yeshuv

The rest of Israel and the OPTs

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Israel and the OPTs .

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel .

Conflict in Israel and the OPTs

On 7 October 2023 there was a large-scale terrorist attack by Hamas in southern Israel. Hamas continues to launch rockets into Israel and the Israeli Defence Forces are conducting significant military activity in Gaza.

There is also increased military activity by the Israeli Defence Forces around Gaza, within the West Bank and on Israel’s northern border.

There are continued exchanges of rocket and small arms fire over Israel’s northern border with Lebanon and a potential increase in rocket attacks and other incidents of violence across Israel and the OPTs , including the West Bank.

We recognise this a fast-moving situation that poses significant risks. The situation has potential to deteriorate quickly and without warning. This could disrupt air and road links out of the country. If your reason to remain in Israel and the OPTs is not essential you should consider leaving if it is safe to do so.

If you are in an area affected by the fighting, follow the instructions of Israeli Home Front Command. To find these:

• visit the Israeli Home Front Command website (available in Israel only)
• call 104 if you are in Israel

The Israeli government has declared a state of emergency across the whole country. International borders (air and land) in Israel and the OPTs could close at short notice. Check the travel advice for any neighbouring country that you are planning to travel to or through.

Before travelling within Israel or  the OPTs , check the local measures in place, that roads are open and, where appropriate, that scheduled train and bus services are operating.

Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast. Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

Read FCDO advice if you’re affected by a crisis abroad .

Register your presence

If you are a British national in Israel and the OPTs , including Gaza, you are advised to register your presence with FCDO . We can then share important updates, including information to support you to leave the country. Fill in the form for every member of your family or group who is a British national.

Travel within or out of Israel or the OPTs is at your own risk. You are encouraged to follow the advice of local authorities, for example on which routes are open or when to take shelter.

Travelling to Egypt from Gaza

The Rafah border crossing continues to be open for controlled and time-limited periods to allow specific groups of foreign nationals, including British nationals, to cross. It is for the Egyptian and Israeli authorities to determine who is permitted to cross, and when. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contact embassies to let them know when their foreign nationals can cross. Should we receive notification from the Israeli and Egyptian authorities that individuals are permitted to cross, we will notify those people individually.

If you are a British national in Gaza who wants to leave Gaza, you should make contact with us as soon as possible.

If you are a UK visa holder who meets all of the following criteria, you can contact us to request support to leave Gaza:

• you have a spouse/partner or a child aged 17 or under currently living in the UK; and
• you hold valid permission to enter or remain in the UK for longer than 6 months

Contact FCDO by calling:

• +44 176 766 7600 (UK number)
• +972 (0)3 725 1222
• +972 (0)2 541 4100

Movement to the Rafah crossing and beyond is at your own risk, and dependent on the permission of the Egyptian and Israeli authorities. You should only travel if you judge it is safe to do so. Check the Egypt travel advice .

Help and support in Israel and the OPTs

Contact your travel provider and insurer.

Contact your travel provider and your insurer. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Help from FCDO in Israel and the OPTs

Consular support is severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.

If you need consular assistance call:

Help from other organisations 

Keep up to date with local travel advice through local news outlets and international outlets like the Access Coordination Unit .

Concern for friends and family

If you are in the UK and concerned about a friend or family member who is in Israel or the OPTs call FCDO on 0176 766 7600. 

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and any specific travel advice that applies to you:

• women travellers
• disabled travellers
• LGBT+ travellers
• solo and independent travel
• volunteering and adventure travel

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice 

FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Related content

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• Help centre
• Travel advice

Israel travel advice

On this page:

Israel travel alerts

Tel aviv travel update.

Last updated: Monday 12 th February 2024 10:24am (UK Time)

Please check the travel advice for all countries in your itinerary .

Entry requirements

You must check all requirements before heading to the airport.

Please visit  https://corona.health.gov.il/en/  for the latest entry requirements. 

Travel bans

For fully vaccinated travellers.

There are currently no COVID-19 travel restrictions in place.

Exit Statement Form 

All Israeli citizens and residents aged 16 years and older, must show clearance to leave Israel, you will receive the clearance after submitting the exit statement form

Your passport must be valid for the period of your intended stay. You may require longer validity by Embassy consular departments.

The Israeli border control won't stamp your passport. Instead, you'll be given a printed card called an "Electric Gate Pass". You'll need this in order to leave the arrival terminal and continue to collect your baggage. You are advised to keep the card with you at all times.

If you need more information, please contact the  Israeli Embassy in London .

Most UK and EU passport holders don't need a visa to enter Israel if visiting for 90 days or less. If you wish to stay longer than 90 days you'll need to apply for a visa.

If don't hold a UK or EU passport, please  check if you need a visa  before travelling.

For non vaccinated travellers

All Israeli citizens and residents aged 16 years and older, must show clearance to leave Israel, you will receive the clearance after submitting the  exit statement form

It will be your personal choice to wear a face mask onboard. Masks remain available for anyone still wishing to wear one during the flight.

Airport guides

Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)

If you are travelling with electrical items such as laptops or cameras you may be asked at customs to pay a refundable deposit.

For more information please visit the  gov.uk website .

Help topics

What to Know About Travel to Israel Right Now—and How to Help

By Jessica Puckett

On Saturday, violence erupted across Israel and Gaza in one of the worst conflicts the region has seen in decades, according to The New York Times . After Hamas militants began launching thousands of rockets and infiltrating Israeli towns early Saturday morning, the conflict has continued to escalate, with Israel’s military responding with massive air strikes. The violence has left thousands dead, according to CNN . Thousands more are injured on both sides.

At least 14 Americans have been killed in the violence, President Biden said in a speech on Tuesday, with more being held hostage by militants in Gaza. More than 10 British citizens are feared dead amid the conflict, while Thailand reported at least 18 nationals killed and 11 taken hostage, and France said at least eight of its citizens perished or have been taken hostage.

As the conflict wears on, air travel options available to tourists looking to evacuate Israel have been severely disrupted. Ben Gurion International Airport remains open, but flights have been greatly reduced and are not easy to book. Many major airlines have canceled or suspended flights into Israel, and any that are still operating are subject to last-minute changes or cancellations. Now a growing number of countries are organizing special evacuation flights for their citizens.

Tour companies and travel specialists have been assisting tourists with evacuations. “We had a few groups in the country, some we took to the airport and they were able to get on a flight out,” says Jonathan Rose, a travel advisor with Touring Israel . “The others we delivered to our partners across the Jordanian border and worked with them to secure them flights out of Amman.”

Here's what travelers should know about the conflict's impact on travel, and how to help victims of the violence.

Airlines are canceling regular flights, but ramping up evacuation efforts

Flight operations into and out of Israel remain dynamic, with changes happening by the hour.

On Saturday, the FAA issued an alert to American pilots to “use caution” when flying in Israeli airspace. The largest US airlines—including United, American, and Delta—have all suspended regular flights to Israel for at least several days. Delta is stopping its flights to Israel until at least October 31. Turkish Airlines, Air France, British Airways, and Lufthansa Group have also suspended regular flights to and from Israel.

Numerous airlines, however, are still operating. Israel’s carriers, Arkia and El Al are still flying many routes, and are adding emergency flights to help those stranded—and other international airlines are operating a handful of routes.

A spokesperson for the US State Department told CNN on Tuesday that the agency has "been in conversation with various carriers to encourage them to consider resuming travel in and out of Israel," according to a report. "The airport is still open. There are flights that are getting out of the airport in Tel Aviv. And so we encourage people to try to avail themselves of those options," the spokesperson said.

Some countries, including Portugal and Spain, have been arranging special evacuation flights transiting through Cyprus, according to Reuters . Germany’s Foreign Office announced on Tuesday it would evacuate German citizens on special flights operated by Lufthansa on Thursday and Friday, CNN reported , and Air France will operate a special repatriation flight to Paris for its “most vulnerable” citizens on Thursday, according to CNN .

Those looking to evacuate could also consider doing so over land. “I think getting across the border to Jordan is the best option,” says Rose. “There are three border crossings—one in the north, one in the center, and one in the south—so wherever [travelers] are they should get to the closest crossing. Flights out of Israel are a bit hard to come by.”

The US State Department says that travelers can check on the status of border crossing points in a security alert on its website . “The situation in Israel remains dynamic; mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning,” says the most recent State Department update . "Individuals should follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials.” Travelers can also track the availability of outgoing flights on a special flight board page, too. (Be sure to verify flight schedules and ticket availability with the individual airline.)

If you are in Israel, it’s a good idea to register your presence with your home government. US citizens and their families can get in touch with the State Department through its online crisis form and register for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for security updates; UK citizens can register their presence with the government and sign up to receive updates through a similar online form .

What to do if you have a future trip planned

For trips in the coming days or weeks, the safest thing to do is to postpone travel. The UK’s Foreign Office “continues to advise against travel to parts of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and to advise against all but essential travel to all other parts.”

The US State Department has instituted a nightly curfew for its embassy personnel, from 8pm to 6am, has encouraged them to stay close to home, and prohibited them from traveling to the West Bank. “US citizens should take this into consideration when planning their own activities,” the agency advises .

Airlines have issued travel waivers on routes to Israel, allowing travelers to either push their flights to a later date at no charge or cancel for a full refund, depending on the carrier. “We are advising people traveling in the next few weeks to postpone to November or a future date,” says Susan Weissberg , a travel specialist at Wyllys Professional Travel. “This will change. Each day we’ll continue to monitor the situation as it’s very fluid.”

Travel advisors agree that postponing—not canceling—is currently the best plan of action. “Now is not the time to visit Israel,” says Rose. “Delaying, instead of canceling, is one way to show your support following these tragic events.”

Jessica Puckett

Kimberly Wilson

Sarah James

Harrison Pierce

Weissberg hopes the conflict won’t deter travelers in the future: “Do not give up on visiting Israel,” she says. “It is the most fascinating country in the world, no matter what your religion is, and this too shall pass.”

How to help

The following organizations have been calling for peace and are offering aid to victims on both sides of the conflict.

The International Red Cross

In order to protect innocent civilians, the International Red Cross is calling for an end to the violence between Hamas and Israel. “The violence directed against civilians is appalling and cannot be justified,” says a statement from the group. “If the situation continues to escalate, then civilians on both sides will suffer immensely.” The organization “responds quickly and efficiently to help people affected by armed conflict,” and collects donations online .

Magen David Adom

Magen David Adom is Israel’s national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance, and blood bank service. It is officially recognized by the international Committee of the Red Cross as the national aid society of the State of Israel under the Geneva Conventions, and a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. You can support its efforts here .

International Rescue Committee

The IRC focuses on offering on-the-ground support to regions in crisis. “We are dismayed by the dramatic escalation of violence and mourn the extensive loss of civilian life in Israel and Gaza today,” said an IRC statement released on Saturday. “We are focused on the humanitarian needs of civilians in the coming days.” You can support the IRC on its donation page .

The Jewish Agency of North America's Fund for Victims of Terror

This American charity has a special arm dedicated to supporting survivors in the wake of tragedy. They are accepting donations to help with their mission of providing immediate assistance to victims in Israel, as well as follow-ups for long-term recovery and rehabilitation.

The United Nation's Relief and Works Agency

UNRWA has mobilized in Gaza to provide relief to the hundreds of thousands of civilian Palestine refugees. The organization is asking for donations to support its work “providing Palestine refugee families with shelter, emergency health care, remote psychosocial support and psychological first aid.”

The Alliance for Middle East Peace

A coalition of over 170 organizations, which is made up of tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis, the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) goals include “building people-to-people cooperation, coexistence, equality, shared society, mutual understanding, and peace among their communities.” The organization is accepting donations and has called for “the immediate protection of civilian life, for urgent steps to be taken to de-escalate this situation, and for all actors to prevent this situation from spiraling toward even further tragedy.”

The Carter Center

Run by the former president Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, the Carter Center works to resolve conflicts and advance human rights around the world. The not-for-profit “strongly condemns the targeting of Israeli and Palestinian civilians and calls for genuine dialogue as well as international collective action to halt hostilities in the region.” The organization accepts support on its donation page .

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Update: Is it safe to travel to Israel, Egypt and the Middle East?

Editor's note: This article is regularly updated as new information becomes available and is accurate as of 12:37 p.m. EDT on Oct. 31. For the most up-to-date information, contact the U.S. Department of State or similar official websites.

Escalating violence has taken an increasingly deadly toll on residents of both Israel and the Gaza Strip. While much less important, it has created instability for travel and travelers across the extended region.

If you have travel plans for Israel or neighboring territories such as Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus and Turkey in the coming months, you must look closely at travel restrictions and advisories for the area. If you still plan to travel to regions where travel is not advised, please be aware that this may invalidate any insurance coverage you have in place.

It is also worth noting that the U.S. Department of State recently issued a worldwide travel advisory for U.S. citizens , encouraging enhanced caution abroad.

Here is everything we know so far about the impact on travel with up-to-date advice from both the United Kingdom and the U.S. governments.

Is it safe to travel to Israel?

What the us government says about travel to israel.

The State Department has a four-tier travel advisory system, ranging from "Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions" to "Level 4: Do Not Travel." Israel is currently listed as "Level 3: Reconsider Travel." While this could change at any time, it is not currently at the highest tier; this may come as a bit of a surprise considering major airlines have suspended flights into the country .

The State Department did, however, post the following Oct. 14:

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.

Additionally, the State Department has also highlighted the following warnings:

Do Not Travel To:

• Gaza due to terrorism , civil unrest , and armed conflict

Reconsider Travel To:

• Israel due to terrorism and civil unrest
• West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest

What the UK government says about travel to Israel

The U.K.'s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office currently advises against all but essential travel to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The FCDO advises against all travel to the following locations:

• The West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem and Route 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
• Within 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of the border with Lebanon, which is now a closed military zone
• Shebaa Farms and Ghajar
• Within 500 meters (0.3 miles) of the border with Syria
• Areas close to the Gaza border, which include southwest of Ashkelon; south of Route 35 and west of Route 40 as far as Tlalim, not including Beer Sheva; west of Beer Sheva; and north of Route 211
• Evacuated communities in Northern Israel, which include Beit Hillel, Dan, Eilon, Even Menachem, Goren, Granot HaGalil, HaGoshrim, Liman, Matsuva, Ramot Naftali, Sasa, Shear Yeshuv, Snir and Tzivon

This advice is accurate as of Oct. 31.

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.

Are Israel flights being canceled?

As the current crisis continues to escalate, many major airlines have either diverted or canceled flights to Israel.

In the U.S. and Canada, the below airlines have suspended flights to Israel.

• Air Canada : Tel Aviv flights are currently canceled.
• American Airlines : Tel Aviv flights are canceled until Dec. 4.
• Delta Air Lines : Tel Aviv flights are canceled until Oct. 31.
• United Airlines : Direct flights to Tel Aviv are canceled.

Within Europe, the below airlines have also suspended flights to Tel Aviv.

• British Airways : Flights to Tel Aviv are currently canceled.
• EasyJet : Flights to Tel Aviv are canceled until Nov. 30.
• Finnair: Flights to Tel Aviv are canceled until March 30, 2024.
• Lufthansa : Flights to Tel Aviv are canceled until Nov. 30.
• Air France : Flights to Tel Aviv are currently canceled.
• KLM : Flights to Tel Aviv are currently canceled.
• Norwegian Air Shuttle : Flights to and from Tel Aviv are canceled until Dec. 19.
• Virgin Atlantic : Flights to Tel Aviv are canceled until Nov. 22.

What if I have booked a trip to Israel?

If your flight is canceled due to the ongoing conflict, you are entitled to a full refund by your airline. You should contact the carrier directly to arrange this if it has not already contacted you.

Likewise, if your flight hasn't been canceled but your government is also advising you not to travel, you should be able to claim a refund. Contact your airline to do so.

If you choose to travel to an affected region against government advice, then it's likely that this will invalidate any insurance claims that you may later make.

Are cruise ships to Israel affected?

Numerous cruise lines have canceled calls at the Israeli ports of Ashdod and Haifa, including:

• Holland America
• Celebrity Cruises
• MSC Cruises
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• Celestyal Cruises

Is it safe to travel to Egypt?

How far is egypt from israel.

Egypt shares a border with Israel and the Gaza Strip, though most of Egypt's major tourist destinations are a considerable distance away. The country's capital, Cairo, is 216 miles from Gaza and 400 miles from Israel.

What the US government says about travel to Egypt

The U.S. has not updated its travel advisory for Egypt since July 13, so the current crisis is not part of its "Level 3: Reconsider Travel" recommendation. There is an additional "Do not travel" warning, also from July, for the following areas:

• The Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) due to terrorism .
• The Western Desert due to  terrorism .
• Egyptian border areas due to  military zones .

However, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo posted this regional security alert Oct. 9:

The situation in Israel continues to be unpredictable and U.S. citizens throughout the region should take caution. Individuals should follow local government advice to increase their security awareness, avoid areas around demonstrations, and check local media for updates and traffic advisories. U.S. citizens who need assistance should contact the closest U.S. embassy or consulate.

What the UK government says about travel to Egypt

As of Oct. 27, the FCDO advises against all travel to the following locations in Egypt :

• Within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of the Egypt-Libya border, except for the town of El Salloum, where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel
• North Sinai

The FCDO also advises against all but essential travel in the following locations in Egypt:

• The northern part of South Sinai beyond the St. Catherine-Nuweiba road, except for coastal areas along the west and east of the peninsula
• The eastern part of the Ismailiyah governorate east of the Suez Canal
• The Western Desert area, west of the Nile Valley and the Nile Delta regions, except for Luxor, Qena, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings; the Faiyum governorate; coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matrouh; Marsa Matrouh-Siwa Road; Siwa Oasis; the Giza governorate northeast of Bahariya Oasis; the road between Giza and Farafra; Bahariya Oasis, Farafra, the White Desert and the Black Desert; and the Halaib Triangle and Bir Tawil

Additionally, British citizens in Gaza wanting to enter Egypt are advised to check the status of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories before attempting to travel.

Travel through this crossing, according to the FCDO, is at your own risk. Only do it if you decide it's safe to do so.

Are Egypt flights being canceled?

At the time of writing, flights between Egypt and the U.K. and the U.S. are still in operation.

What if I have booked a trip to Egypt?

If you have booked a trip to Egypt but no longer wish to travel, your cancellation rights will depend upon the airline that you have booked with and/or any insurance policy that you may have taken out.

As both the U.S. and the U.K. are not currently advising against travel to most parts of Egypt, you will likely be charged a fee to cancel your flight with most airlines. However, if your airline cancels your flight, you'll be entitled to a full refund.

For hotel cancellations, this will again depend on where you booked your accommodation. You should contact either the hotel or your booking agent directly to understand your options.

Are cruise ships to Egypt affected?

The following cruise lines have canceled calls at Egyptian ports:

Is it safe to travel to Jordan?

How far is jordan from israel.

Israel shares its long eastern border with Jordan. This border stretches 300 miles from Golan Heights in the north to the Red Sea in the south. There are three crossing points in the northern, central and southern areas. It's possible to drive between Israel's capital, Jerusalem, and Jordan's capital, Amman, in less than two hours; however, the route goes directly through the Palestinian West Bank territories.

What the US government says about travel to Jordan

Although Jordan shares a border with Israel and the West Bank, the State Department has not issued an updated travel advisory for the country since July.

The current advisory is "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution" (a mild warning that is the same level currently assessed for much of southern Europe, including Spain and Italy).

Additionally, it advises that you do not travel to:

• Within 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) of the Jordanian border with Syria and east of the town of Ruwayshid in the direction of the border with Iraq
• Zarqa, Rusayfah and the Baqaa neighborhood of Ayn Basha due to terrorism and crime

You should reconsider travel to:

• Maan City and some areas of Maan Governorate due to terrorism and crime

What the UK government says about travel to Jordan

As of Oct. 18, travel to Jordan is still permitted , according to the FCDO, though travel within 3 kilometers (1.86 miles) of Jordan's border with Syria should only be undertaken if essential.

The FCDO has, however, advised that crossings between Jordan and Israel may be closed at short notice. If you're planning to make this journey, you should check with local authorities and travel advice for Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories before attempting to do so.

While the political situation in Jordan remains stable, numerous protests and demonstrations are happening throughout the country. While largely peaceful, they "can become confrontational," the FCDO advises.

It also notes the country is at risk of terror attacks and has seen numerous incidents since 2016.

Are Jordan flights being canceled?

At the time of writing, flights between Jordan and the U.K. and the U.S. are still in operation.

What if I have booked a trip to Jordan?

If you have booked a trip to Jordan but now want to cancel, you will only be entitled to a full refund if you were planning to visit a region that your government now advises you not to travel to.

Beyond these areas, your cancellation rights will depend upon the airline that you have booked with and/or any insurance policy that you may have taken out.

As both the U.S. and the U.K. are not currently advising against travel to most parts of Jordan, you will likely be charged a fee to cancel your flight with most airlines if you cancel within the stipulated cancellation period.

For hotel cancellations, you should contact the hotel or your booking agent directly to understand your options and whether your booking falls within a free cancellation window.

Are cruise ships to Jordan affected?

The following cruise lines have canceled calls at ports in Jordan:

Is it safe to travel to Cyprus?

How far is cyprus from israel.

The island of Cyprus is 150 miles west of Israel. It takes less than an hour to fly to the island from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), which is in the coastal city of Tel Aviv. Although Cyprus is considered a European destination rather than a Middle Eastern one, its proximity makes it a popular place to visit from Israel.

What the US government says about travel to Cyprus

There are no security alerts for Cyprus , and the State Department lists it as "Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions" (the lowest travel advisory).

What the UK government says about travel to Cyprus

As of Oct. 23, the FCDO has not issued any travel warnings regarding Cyprus .

Are Cyprus flights being canceled?

At the time of writing, flights between Cyprus and the U.K. and the U.S. are still in operation.

What if I have booked a trip to Cyprus?

Currently, neither the U.S. nor the U.K. advises against travel to any region of Cyprus. As such, it is unlikely that you would be able to receive a full travel refund for any booked flights with most airlines without paying a cancellation fee.

You should contact the airline you are flying with to understand your full cancellation options and any applicable fees if you no longer wish to travel.

For hotel bookings, contact the hotel directly or via your booking agent. In some scenarios, you may have a cancellation period built into your booking that will allow you a full or partial refund.

Is it safe to travel to Turkey?

How far is turkey from israel.

Turkey is 550 miles north of Israel, just above Lebanon and Syria. The two countries do not share a border, though it only takes 90 minutes to fly between the two regions.

What the US government says about travel to Turkey

The State Department has not updated its advisory for Turkey since July. The country is listed as "Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution," which isn't unusual. Again, Germany, Italy and Spain all have Level 2 advisories as well.

However, there is an addition to the advisory to avoid the southern border with Syria:

• Sirnak province, Hakkari province, and any area within six miles (10 kilometers) of the Syrian border due to terrorism.

What the UK government says about travel to Turkey

The FCDO advises against all travel to the following locations in Turkey:

• Travel within 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) of the border with Syria
• All but essential travel to the city of Sirnak
• All but essential travel to Hakkari province

Are Turkey flights being canceled?

What if i have booked a trip to turkey.

If you have a flight booked to visit an area of Turkey that your government now advises against traveling to, you should be entitled to a full refund. Contact your airline to do so and discuss your options.

Beyond these areas, your cancellation rights will depend upon the airline that you have booked with and/or any insurance policy that you may have taken out regarding cancelations.

As both the U.S. and the U.K. are not currently advising against travel to most parts of Turkey, you will likely be charged a fee to cancel your flight with most airlines if you cancel within the stipulated cancellation period.

Bottom line

The conflicts in Israel and Gaza have escalated quickly over recent weeks, and travel to either region is not currently advised. Additionally, the related effects also have the potential to affect neighboring destinations such as Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus and Turkey.

If you would like to cancel an upcoming trip to a neighboring region, you may not be entitled to a full refund unless your government has advised against traveling to that specific destination. However, in these scenarios, we'd advise reaching out to your airline directly, as it may be able to offer alternative resolutions or changes.

Related reading:

• U.S. issues worldwide travel advisory — here's what you should know
• Confused by State Department travel advisories? Here's what they mean
• How the State Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program could help you on your next trip abroad
• The difference between CDC and State Department travel warnings
• The best travel insurance policies and providers

We’re not taking new bookings for travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories at the moment. Our specialists can advise you on all the destinations you can currently book with us.

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Israel travel advice

Practical information.

Although Israel is one of the smallest countries in the Middle East, it is not short of history, breathtaking landscapes or diverse peoples. In just a few days you can experience the ancient city of Jerusalem, the metropolitan buzz of Tel Aviv, and the wealth of historic, religious and cultural sites scattered across the country.

Planning your trip

Israel is known for being an important religious destination, but there is plenty more to explore beyond the religious sites. When we design your itinerary, we’ll look at how we can tailor your trip to Israel to best suit you, whether you’re interested in religious experiences, outdoor adventure, food and culture, or other types of activity.

Combining Israel and Jordan

Many visitors to the area will choose to visit both Jordan and Israel, usually crossing the border at either the Allenby Bridge or Sheikh Hussein Bridge.

Israel’s national language is Hebrew, though thanks to the large immigrant population you’re likely to hear a host of other languages spoken, including Arabic and Russian. Many people will speak at least some English though and all your guides will speak English very well.

Food & drink

Israeli cuisine reflects the diversity of its people, drawing influence from European and Middle Eastern Jews, Arabs, Armenians and more. Restaurants in Israel are particularly good; the high cost of renting premises forces many restaurants to compete at a very high level in order to stay in business. As a result, you’ll find excellent meals almost everywhere, especially in Tel Aviv. Street food is also very popular, with shawarma (thinly sliced meat in a bread pocket), falafel and bourekas (pastries commonly filled with cheese, potato, spinach or mushrooms) widely on offer.

As in much of the Middle East, coffee and tea are also incredibly popular in Israel. However, depending on whether you’re in a predominantly Jewish or Arab area, you may find some slight differences in the way they’re served. In Jewish areas you’ll find tea and coffee in European or American cafés, while in Arab areas you’ll find them in coffee houses which often serve nothing else.

Festivals & public holidays

With large Jewish and Christian populations, there are several festivals and holidays throughout the year, both joyful and solemn. Early in the year you can experience the joyous festival of Purim, when people fill the streets with carnival-style parades and music, while more solemn holidays like Yom Kippur will bring quiet streets, closed shops and fasting throughout the country. Additionally, on Shabbat — beginning at sundown on Friday and ending at sundown on Saturday — many Jews will refrain from doing any kind of work, even things as simple as using the phone or turning on a light. Many restaurants in Jerusalem close for Shabbat, though hotel restaurants generally stay open.

Public holidays

Most of Israel’s public holidays follow the Jewish lunar calendar, so their actual dates will vary from year to year. Below is a list of public holidays with the times of year at which they generally fall:

• March — Purim
• April — Passover
• April/May — Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day)
• May/June — Pentecost
• July/August — Tisha B’Av
• September/October — Rosh Hashanah
• September/October — Yom Kippur
• September/October — Sukkot
• September/October — Simchat Torah

Tipping in Israel is not quite as intrinsic to the culture as in other areas in the region, though it’s always an accepted gesture. Some restaurants and cafés have introduced mandatory service charges, though in most cases you can tip what you like — we would recommend 10-15% for good service.

Money & expenses

Israel’s currency is the New Israeli Shekel. There are 100 agorot (agora singular) in a shekel. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are relatively common though not all have the option to switch from Hebrew to English.

Communications

The country code for Israel is +972. Making international calls from hotels can be expensive, but most hotels, restaurants and cafés will offer free Wi-Fi. It’s also a good idea to check with your mobile phone provider to find out about international roaming plans and costs.

Most parts of Israel exhibit a fairly western attitude, with some exceptions in Orthodox or Palestinian areas. It’s also expected that visitors will be properly dressed in certain public areas and at religious sites, with shoulders and legs covered. At some Jewish sites, men may be asked to wear a kippah (a small brimless cap), though a paper one will usually be provided.

Do not photograph anything related to the military or to government buildings, especially bridges, canals or anything that could be deemed as having strategic significance. It’s also always good to ask people’s permission before photographing them.

Smoking in public is generally banned in Israel, though some restaurants may have a separate smoking area.

Travel Advice

Our country specialists can advise on any safety concerns you may have. For current information, please refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website .

When to go to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

You'll find temperature and rainfall information, together with a month-by-month guide on visiting, on our guide for when to go to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

More Information

Flight Time 4 hours 55 upwards dependent on airline (London to Tel Aviv)

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The Man in Seat 61

A beginner's guide to

Train travel in israel.

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Reaching Israel by land or sea is tricky at the moment, with the war in Syria and a dearth of ferries in the Eastern Mediterranean.  But once in Israel, it's easy to get around on an efficient and inexpensive train network, linking Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, Jerusalem, Haifa, Akko and Be'er Sheva.

Useful country information

Israel has a modern and rapidly-expanding train network - the roads around Tel Aviv are often gridlocked at rush hours, making the train the best transport solution.  The trains are frequent, inexpensive, and come with toilets & power outlets.  They trains used to have WiFi, this was discontinued but may be restored in due course.

You can check train times at the Israeli Railways website, www.rail.co.il - change HE to EN at the top.  This also has a route map.

Tip:   If it says forbidden , just set your VPN to an Israeli IP address, refresh the page, and it will work.  This sort of thing is why you need a VPN !

The main line links Be'er Sheva, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Akko & Nahariya, with fast trains every 30 minutes.

Trains link Tel Aviv to Jerusalem every half hour over the new fast line taking 34 minutes, see the Tel Aviv - Jerusalem section below .  There are normally also trains every hour taking 90 minutes with a simple change at Bet Shemesh over the slow, twisting and scenic line originally built in Ottoman times, see the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem page .

Expect to go through a quick and simple security check - often with baggage X-ray & metal detector portal - at the entrance to each station.  You'll then usually need to go through automatic ticket gates to access the platforms, with an extra-wide one if you have luggage.

Which station in Tel Aviv ?  See location map

Tel Aviv doesn't have a main central station, it has 4 stations spaced out through the city on a north-south railway built through Tel Aviv in the 1950s between the carriageways of the Ayalon Highway.

From north to south, they are: Tel Aviv-University, Tel Aviv Savidor-Center, Tel Aviv HaShalom and Tel Aviv HaHagana.

Most trains call at all 4 Tel Aviv stations so you can pick whichever is nearer to your hotel. 

Tel Aviv Savidor-Center (pictured below) & Tel Aviv HaShalom ( pictured here ) are arguably the most important stations, both with plenty of taxis waiting outside.  Tel Aviv HaHagana is smaller, but it's the closest to old Jaffa.

Fares & how to buy tickets

Just turn up, buy a ticket and hop on the next train - there is no need to reserve.

It's possible to reserve seats on certain trains on which one carriage has been designated as 'all seats reserved' but I'd recommend not worrying about seat reservations, just buy a ticket, hop on and sit in any empty seat.  Seat reservations aren't possible at all on the trains to or from Jerusalem, you just sit where you like.

You can buy tickets at the station from the staffed ticket office or from the self-service machines which have a touch screen and English language facility.  Both ticket office and machines accept credit cards, using the magnetic strip.

Fares are cheap:  Tel Aviv to Jerusalem costs 24 NIS, about £4 or $6.  Tel Aviv to Haifa costs 32 NIS, about £5.50 or $8. 

To check fares online use pti.org.il/derekh-shava/eng/?culture=en (please let me know if that link stops working).  The Israeli railways website won't tell you the fare as prices are set by the government, hence the need to use pti.org.il .

Children:   Infants under 5 go free (one per adult).  Strangely, there is no discount for children 5 & over when buying normal tickets if you are not an Israeli citizen.  However, there's a 50% discount for children aged 5-18 if you obtain a RAVKAV child smartcard and pay with that.  You can get a child RAVKAV at any RAVKAV service centre, including one at Ben Gurion Airport.  A few may (incorrectly) refuse to give you one as a non-Israeli, but most will, the one at the airport normally won't be a problem as they are used to this.

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Be'er Sheva ► Tel Aviv ► Haifa ► Akko ► Nahariya

On Mondays-Thursdays & Sundays, 2 trains an hour link Tel Aviv ( all 4 stations ) with Haifa, Akko (Acre) & Nahariya.  The Tel Aviv to Haifa journey takes 50-60 minutes for the 85km (53 miles).  3 trains an hour link Tel Aviv with Be’er Sheva, some trains starting back in Haifa.

On Fridays, trains run hourly on both routes until around 13:00, there is no service on Friday afternoons or on Saturdays until after dark.

You can check train times at www.rail.co.il , check prices at pti.org.il/derekh-shava/eng/?culture=en .

Tel Aviv ► Jerusalem

The train is an excellent way to reach Jerusalem, you have (or had) a choice of two routes, the new fast link or the classic line:

The Tel Aviv - Jerusalem fast train

The new fast rail link between Tel Aviv & Jerusalem opened in September 2018 and links Tel Aviv Center-Savidor, Tel Aviv HaShalom, Tel Aviv HaHagana & Ben Gurion airport station with Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon station.

On Mondays-Thursdays & Sundays it runs every 30 minutes taking 43 minutes from Tel Aviv Center-Savidor or 36 minutes from HaHagana.

On Fridays, it runs hourly until around 14:30, there is no service on Friday afternoons or on Saturdays until after dark.

To allow for security, it's best to arrive at the station at least 10-15 minutes before departure.

Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon is a new station opposite Jerusalem's central bus station, immediately to the west of the old city and within easy walking distance of all the sights.

The fare is 24 shekels, about £6 or $7.

Buy at the station, no reservation necessary.  Check times at www.rail.co.il , check prices at pti.org.il/derekh-shava/eng/?culture=en .

The classic route - currently suspended

Before the pandemic, you could also take the historic Jaffa-Jerusalem railway from Tel Aviv HaShalom or Tel Aviv HaHagana stations through the scenic Judean Hills to Jerusalem Malha station located in a southwest suburb of Jerusalem, see the Tel Aviv to Jerusalem page .  It was worth doing at least in one direction for the experience and historical interest.  Trains used to be direct, after the opening of the new fast line it became necessary to make one simple cross-platform change at Bet Shemesh.  However, this classic route stopped operating in 2020 because of the pandemic and it has not resumed, with no plans to reopen it.

Ben Gurion Airport train

Trains link Ben Gurion Airport with Tel Aviv & Haifa every 30 minutes, journey time to Tel Aviv Savidor-Center 18 minutes, daily except Friday nights & Saturdays.  Direct fast trains also link Ben Gurion with Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon station every 30 minutes, taking 26 minutes.

You can check train times & fares at www.rail.co.il , check prices at pti.org.il/derekh-shava/eng/?culture=en .

When you arrive by air at the airport, follow the signs for trains .  The station is on the ground floor right outside the exit from terminal 3 arrivals.  For Tel Aviv, look on the departure boards for any train going to Nahariya as these go to all 4 Tel Aviv stations.

When heading back from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion airport, look for a train going to Modi'in Center or Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon  as these all call at Ben Gurion Airport.

What are the trains like ?

There are essentially just 3 types of train in Israel:  The red double-deck and blue single-deck used on most lines, and the Danish-designed IC3 trains which were used on the classic line to Jerusalem before it was suspended.  All these trains have toilets & power outlets.

A train ride from Tel Aviv to Haifa & Akko

The historic old city of Acre, today's Akko, makes a great day trip from Tel Aviv, see www.akko.org.il ...

Europe to Israel without flying

Israel is isolated from the rest of the world as far as land or sea travel is concerned.  There used to be two or three options for travel from London (or anywhere else in Europe) to Israel, but at the moment there are major problems with each option...

Option 1:  Travel by train all the way via Syria & Jordan. 

Before the war in Syria, this used to work OK in the outward (London to Israel) direction, and could only be used in the return (Israel to London) direction if you were careful to avoid any indication in your passport (or anywhere else) of your visit to Israel.  This was because you couldn't enter Syria with any evidence of a visit to Israel in your passport.  The route was London - Paris - Vienna - Budapest - Istanbul - Aleppo - Damascus - Amman - Allenby Bridge - Jerusalem.  Now, of course, the war in Syria blocks this route.

Option 2:  Travel by train+ferry to Athens, then by ferry from Piraeus to Israel.

Hotels in Israel

In jerusalem:  the king david hotel.

The King David Hotel is the most famous & fabulous hotel in Jerusalem.  Opened in 1931, the building was used as the British administration HQ during the British Mandate period from 1917 to 1948 - the south west wing was blown up in 1946 by zionist activists.  Today, it's an excellent luxury hotel with great character, 15 minutes walk from the Jaffa Gate into the Old City.  The rooms at the rear of the hotel have views over the city wall.  Read more about this hotel at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_David_Hotel .  Also at the upper end of the scale, the American Colony Hotel gets great reviews.  For cheaper options, just check Booking.com .

In Tel Aviv: Lily & Bloom Hotel

The Lily & Bloom Hotel occupies a 1930s Bauhaus-style building which was originally a bank.  Located just off Allenby, near the junction with Rothschild Boulevard, the Lily & Bloom hotel has friendly staff, great clean rooms and does an excellent breakfast - and of course there's free WiFi.  It's a short taxi ride from HaShalom station, and 15-20 minutes walk from Old Jaffa.  If you'd prefer to stay in the old city of Jaffa rather than busier, more modern Tel Aviv, try the highly-rated Margosa Hotel, Jaffa .

Use Booking.com ...

Backpacker hostels....

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  W hy you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com .

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Update January 10, 2024

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Information for U.S. Citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza

U.S. citizens should heed the  Travel Advisory  for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. The U.S. Embassy continues to closely monitor the dynamic security situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. There are active military operations and active rocket and mortar fire in Gaza and the Gaza periphery.  Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, 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, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning. If you require emergency assistance while in Israel, the West Bank or Gaza, contact the  U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem  by email ([email protected]).

Individuals seeking to depart Gaza  through the Rafah crossing into Egypt should monitor the  Palestinian General Authority for Crossings and Borders’ Facebook Page  for a list of those approved to cross. U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or immediate family (as listed below) who desire our assistance and have not already provided their information to the Department of State, please email U.S. Embassy Jerusalem at  [email protected]  with a copy of the individual’s travel document as well as an explanation or proof of relationship.

The U.S. government does not control the crossing lists nor determine who is permitted to depart Gaza or enter Egypt. Individuals must assess their own safety and risks in attempting to cross the border. Individuals permitted to enter Egypt will likely receive a 72-hour Egyptian visa; all those who cross should have a plan for onward travel from Egypt in this timeframe. U.S. citizens, LPRs and their immediate family members who successfully enter Egypt and require further consular assistance should contact the  U.S. Embassy in Cairo  via the  U.S. Citizens Services Navigator .  Individuals may apply for a U.S. visa at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate; U.S. immigration laws and regulations will apply.

If a name has appeared on a crossing list since November 1, we understand those individuals will be permitted to cross as long as the border remains open for foreign nationals. We urge U.S. citizens, LPRs, and their immediate family members who have appeared on one of these lists to cross as soon as possible – there is no guarantee the border will remain open. We continue to work in partnership with Egypt and Israel towards safe passage for U.S. citizens, LPRs, and their immediate family members.

Immediate family members of U.S. citizens include:

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• parents of U.S. citizens.

If the U.S. citizen is under 21, immediate family will also include any siblings who are also unmarried and under 21.

Immediate family members of LPRs include:

• unmarried children under 21 years of age.

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Travel to UK from Israel

If you’re an Israeli looking to travel to the UK, you must ensure that you have the necessary visas, documents and preparations in place to travel.

For more information about travelling to the UK from Israel, including help on applying for a visa, eligibility requirements and bespoke advice for your own personal situation, reach out to an immigration adviser today. Call us on (+44) 333 4149244 , or contact us  online .

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Page contents, overview of travel to uk from israel, short-term visits to the uk for israelis, long-term visits to the uk for israelis, uk entry requirements for israelis, how can ias help, frequently asked questions.

London is famous for being a melting pot of international cultures and communities, with one of the most notable being the Israeli and Jewish community in north London.

There are a significant number of Israeli-born residents in the areas of Hendon and Golders Green, with a significant proportion of these being Jewish. There are additionally over 40 synagogues serving the community, as well as over 30 Jewish schools in the area.

In total, it was estimated that around 21,000 Israeli-born residents were residing in the UK in 2011, and the number is steadily rising. The UK remains a popular destination for Israelis looking to relocate, and the already-established community in London and beyond is a great draw for many.

Israelis benefit from visa-free travel to the UK for short trips of up to 6 months. For longer trips or for purposes other than tourism, however, many travellers will require an appropriate visa to enter the UK.

Most Israelis will be able to visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, business, short-term study and other permitted activities.

You must ensure that you have a full, valid Israeli passport in order to take advantage of this. If you have a provisional passport, or a travel document in lieu of a national passport, you may instead need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa to come to the UK instead.

Israelis may visit the UK as a visitor:

• For tourism
• To see family or friends
• To volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity
• To pass through the UK to another country
• For certain business activities, such as attending a meeting or interview
• To take part in a school exchange programme
• To do a recreational course of up to 30 days
• To study, do a placement or take an exam
• As an academic, senior doctor or dentist
• For medical reasons

You will need a specific dedicated visa if you wish to carry out any kind of work in the UK, or if you wish to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months.

If you wish to visit the UK or reside in the UK for longer than 6 months, you will have to apply for a dedicated visa to allow you to do so.

The UK has a number of visas to suit a range of specific circumstances. For example, there are dedicated visas if you wish to come and work in the health sector , work in a religious community , or if you wish to join family in the UK .

UK visas all vary in their costs, eligibility criteria and allowances for what you can and can’t do. For this reason, it’s important to read carefully on the details of your chosen visa before you apply for it.

In most cases, you will have to apply for a visa before you travel to the UK. Some visas may also require you to fulfil certain other criteria to travel, such as obtaining a certificate of sponsorship if you are being sponsored by an employer to come and work in the UK.

You will also have to pay an application fee for most UK visas, which range from a couple of hundred pounds to a few thousand.

You will also normally have to pay the immigration health surcharge with a long-term UK visa. This is a fee paid for every year you’ll be in the UK that will allow you to access NHS services.

Get in touch with our immigration experts for help with your move to the UK from Israel. Contact Us

There are a few important things to remember when travelling to the UK, such as important document guidelines and entry requirements you must follow.

First of all, you are required to have a valid passport or travel document when you come to the UK. It must be valid for the whole duration of your stay.

You must also ensure that you have an approved visa for your stay in the UK if you need one, such as if you plan to work or get married in the UK.

As of 2022, you will not have to take a COVID-19 test or fill in a passenger locator form.

You must also ensure that you comply with UK customs laws and declare any restricted items. These include (but are not limited to) goods that you plan to sell, firearms, drugs or more than €10,000 (or equivalent) in cash.

Note that your identity will be checked and your baggage may be searched at the UK border.

When travelling to the UK, it’s essential that you’re aware of all of the immigration guidelines and travel restrictions that you may have to adhere to in order to enter the country as safely and smoothly as possible.

If you’re planning on travelling to the UK from Israel or anywhere else in the world, IAS can help.

We are experts in international immigration and travel. We can offer bespoke, personalised legal advice for your situation to ensure that you can get to where you’re going with minimal fuss and hassle.

Whether you’re looking to travel to the UK short term, need help applying for a work or family visa, or need help with travelling back to Israel or onwards to any other part of the world, we can help.

For more information on the services we offer and what we can do for you, reach out to one of our immigration experts today. Call us on (+44) 333 4149244 , or contact us  online .

Last modified on July 17th, 2023 at 7:47 am

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We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone. Learn more

Related pages for your continued reading.

British citizenship, british naturalisation, life in the uk test, british citizenship by marriage, british citizenship by birth, english requirements, how do i apply for a uk visa.

In most cases, you will have to apply for a visa through the Gov.uk website in Israel before you travel.

As part of the application process, you will have to provide your personal information and upload a range of supporting documents.

You may also have to attend a local visa application centre in order to give additional information, such as your biometrics.

There is one visa application centre located in Tel Aviv.

Can I apply to settle permanently in the UK?

Yes. Permanent settlement in the UK is known as indefinite leave to remain. You may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain if you’ve spent enough time in the UK on a qualifying visa.

For example, you will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after spending at least 5 years in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa.

In order to be eligible, you must pass the Life in the UK Test. You may also have to meet certain financial and English language criteria in order to apply.

After obtaining indefinite leave to remain, you’ll be able to reside in the UK for as long as you wish, without having to update or extend your status.

How much does it cost to move to the UK?

How much money you’ll need in the UK will depend heavily on where you’ll intend to be living and how much you’ll be earning.

If, like many Israelis, you wish to live in London, you may need around £1,500 a month in order to live comfortably.

However, this figure goes down significantly when moving outside of the city. In parts of north England, you may only need around £1,100 to live comfortably.

You will also need to factor in additional costs of moving to another country, such as the cost of travel insurance, moving your furniture and belongings, transport, and legal/visa immigration fees.

You should always carefully consider your budget and expenses well in advance of making an international move, as it can be a stressful process.

© 2024 Immigration Advice Service LTD. OISC Registration Number - F201100299. Our Flagship London Immigration Lawyer office is open for business as usual.

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Terms and conditions apply. Always check our policy wording before purchasing to make sure our cover is right for you.

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Healthcare for Brits in Israel

It’s a good idea for UK citizens to check with NaTHNaC (National Travel Health Network and Centre) at least 2 months before their trip to Israel.

They offer vaccine recommendations and the latest news on outbreaks and other health risks as well as factsheets that contain useful information for staying healthy during your travel.

Note that the Israeli government does not offer free medical care for Brits in Israel. This means that without travel insurance, you’ll have to pay for medicines, doctor and hospital fees out of pocket.

As you might imagine, these unforeseen expenses can be significant, which is why it’s important to ensure that you get good travel insurance before you leave.

If you take prescription medication for an existing health condition, the NHS recommends that it’s also a good idea to get in touch with the Turkish embassy for assurance that you can safely bring those medicines with you inside the country.

You’d also want to make sure that you bring a note from your doctor verifying that you need the medicine to manage an existing health condition.

You can check the NHS website for pertinent advice on pertinent vaccinations and health checks for more information.

What About Pre-Existing Medical Conditions?

As per the norm in the travel insurance business, you need to disclose any pre-existing medical condition you have to your policy provider. While this means that you’ll likely have to pay more to obtain travel insurance for Israel, it’s better than falling ill during your travel (related to your pre-existing medical condition) and being denied coverage.

Policy providers typically offer free screenings for thousands of medical conditions and provide ample coverage to offset the cost of repatriation and medical care.

While it’s unlikely that you’ll get injured or fall victim to a crime if you confine your activities to safer regions in the country, it’s best not to take any chances and obtain a single or multi-trip travel insurance policy before your departure.

Make sure you disclose all pre-existing medical conditions when applying for travel insurance for Israel. Doing so would help ensure that you don’t run into any problems should you need to file a claim.

The human body is an incredible work of evolution and as such there are plenty of things that can go wrong in both the short and long term.

For that reason it can often be difficult to understand what constitutes a medical condition that you have to declare to your travel insurance provider.

Have/are you or anyone in your party:

• taken any prescribed medication, or received any medical treatment in the last 2 years;
• attended a medical practitioner’s surgery, or hospital or clinic (out-patient or in-patient) in the last two years;
• awaiting medical treatment or investigation;
• been diagnosed by a medical practitioner as suffering from a terminal illness.

All medical conditions you have must be disclosed as well as any previous medical conditions if they could have an impact on your current health.

That said, your policy provider will let you know if your pre-existing condition is not a factor for your trip cover.

For example, here at Emerald Life, we don’t require clients to disclose their HIV status for as long as they meet the following conditions:

• The patient has taken antiviral treatment for no less than 3 months.
• The patient has not been advised to switch to a different/new type of antiviral regimen.
• If your CDR count is below 350, then you’ll need a note from your GP stating that you are fit for your multi/single trip to Israel.
• Submit a recent test result showing that the patient has an undetectable viral load or less than 50mls.

Note that conditions can vary from one policy provider to another. It’s ultimately up to the insurance company to decide which pre-existing medical conditions are exempted from disclosure and set pertinent conditions for the exemption.

What to Look For When Shopping for Israel Travel Insurance

At this point, you probably already have an idea of just how important it is to obtain travel insurance before you travel to Israel (whether multiple or a single trip). This begs the questions — what factors do you need to keep in mind before buying travel insurance?

Well, the answer doesn’t need to be all that complicated. After all, the purpose of travel insurance is to give you peace of mind while you enjoy the sights and wonders that Israel has to offer. For that, you can set your sights on a few essential factors:

Repatriation and Medical Cover

The most important part of any travel insurance policy is emergency medical expenses cover. Typically ranging from £5 million to £10 million – the higher in our case – this covers your costs if you become ill or injured abroad and require medical treatment.

Medical expenses often include repatriation cover so that if your condition means you have to return to the UK urgently then there is cover for transporting you along with any necessary medical equipment and staff. Unsurprisingly, these costs can be staggering.

Before you leave for Israel, it’s important to ensure that your travel insurance policy offers enough coverage to pay for emergency medical services and repatriation back to the UK.

Here at Emerald Life, we provide coverage of up to £10,000,000.

Travel Insurance Israel Cancellation and Curtailment Cover

If you are ill or injured before you travel then you may have to cancel your trip. Some policies will also cover you if a close relative is ill or injured, or your home is burgled, and you have to cancel as a result.

If you expect to make multiple trips to Israel in a given year, you can probably secure a better deal if you sign up for annual multi-trip travel.

An annual policy will help you save time since you don’t have to reapply before every departure. More importantly, annual multi-trip insurance cost is bound to be cheaper than obtaining numerous single trip policies over the course of a year.

Israel Travel Insurance Luggage cover

Luggage can get lost during transit, and if that happens, it’ll be a major inconvenience in your travel plans. That’s why you need travel insurance that will reimburse you for the trouble should it happen.

For luggage delays, Emerald Life offers optional baggage cover which serves as compensation for the inconvenience.

If the luggage is lost (missing for more than 21 days), you’ll be paid the amount stipulated in the luggage cover.

Travel Insurance Israel Excesses

While it can be tempting when buying travel insurance to just look at the final price, it is important that you check any excesses you have to pay.

That is because some cheap policies will have very high excesses which means any claims could be very expensive despite having the insurance. Sometimes excesses are so high it might not even be worth claiming. Therefore, make sure you buy a policy that balances a good price with a reasonable excess.

Most travel insurance policies will also include different excesses for different types of claim and you can find these in your policy documentation, but generally the medical excess is the most significant.

Do You Need Insurance to Travel to Israel?

It can be argued that the real question is — can you afford not to have travel insurance when you leave for Israel?

Again, tourists have no free access to healthcare services when visiting the country, and private medical care can be costly.

Travel insurance should cover the cost of medical treatment if you fall ill or become injured during your travel.

While no one expects to get sick or become injured while holidaying in Israel, accidents can happen. If things go south, it’s always helpful to know that you have travel insurance to fall back on.

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Latest Travel Restrictions From Israel To Uk: What You Need To Know

• Last updated Nov 07, 2023
• Difficulty Intemediate

• Category United States

Travel restrictions have become the new norm in our ever-changing world, and one of the countries that has imposed strict measures is Israel. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, travel from Israel to the United Kingdom has been heavily restricted. As both countries strive to control the spread of the virus and protect their citizens, understanding these travel restrictions becomes essential for anyone planning a trip between the two nations. Join us as we explore the current regulations, exemptions, and the impact these restrictions have on travel and global connectivity.

What You'll Learn

What are the current travel restrictions from israel to the uk, are there any specific requirements or documents needed to travel from israel to the uk, are vaccinated individuals exempt from any travel restrictions or requirements from israel to the uk, are there any quarantine or self-isolation measures in place for travelers from israel to the uk, is there a specific list of reasons for essential travel from israel to the uk, or is travel limited to specific individuals only.

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted travel across the globe, and Israel is no exception. As a result, there are currently travel restrictions in place for those traveling from Israel to the United Kingdom. These restrictions are necessary to limit the spread of the virus and protect public health.

At present, individuals traveling from Israel to the UK need to adhere to a set of guidelines and requirements. The key restrictions include the following:

• Pre-departure testing: All passengers, regardless of nationality or vaccination status, are required to present a negative COVID-19 test result before traveling to the UK. The test must be taken within 72 hours before departure.
• Passenger Locator Form: Passengers are also required to complete a Passenger Locator Form, providing information on their journey and contact details. This form must be completed before arrival in the UK.
• Quarantine requirements: Upon arrival in the UK, travelers are subject to quarantine requirements based on the categorization of the country they are traveling from. Israel is currently on the UK's "amber list," which means that fully vaccinated travelers are not required to quarantine. However, they must take a PCR test on or before day two after arrival.
• Vaccination status and exemptions: Fully vaccinated individuals traveling from Israel are eligible for quarantine exemption. To be considered fully vaccinated, individuals must have received a full course of an approved vaccine, with the final dose administered at least 14 days before travel.

It's important to note that these restrictions are subject to change and can be updated based on the evolving situation and government advice. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly check for updates from the UK government and travel authorities before planning any journeys.

The travel restrictions and guidelines implemented during the pandemic are crucial in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and reducing the risks associated with international travel. These measures not only protect the health and safety of the general public but also aim to prevent the emergence and spread of new variants of the virus.

By following these guidelines and requirements, travelers can help mitigate the risks associated with international travel and ensure the utmost safety for themselves and others. It is essential to stay informed about current travel restrictions and guidelines before planning any trips and to comply with the rules and regulations set by the authorities.

In conclusion, travel restrictions from Israel to the UK currently require pre-departure testing, completion of a passenger locator form, and adherence to quarantine requirements based on the categorization of the country. Fully vaccinated travelers from Israel are eligible for quarantine exemption. It is crucial to stay updated on the latest guidelines and regulations to ensure safe and responsible travel during these challenging times.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Announces New Travel Restrictions Amidst Rising COVID-19 Cases

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If you are planning to travel from Israel to the UK, it is essential to familiarize yourself with the specific requirements and documents needed for a smooth and hassle-free journey. This article will provide you with the necessary information and steps to ensure a successful trip.

• Valid Passport: The first and most crucial document you will need is a valid passport. Make sure your passport is not expired and has at least six months of validity remaining from your intended date of departure. This is a general requirement for international travel and is applicable in this case as well.
• Visa: If you are an Israeli citizen, you are exempt from the visa requirement for short visits to the UK of up to six months. However, if you plan to stay longer or have other specific purposes for your visit, such as work or study, you may need to apply for a visa in advance. Check the official website of the UK government or consult with the nearest UK embassy or consulate for detailed visa information based on your specific circumstances.
• COVID-19 Requirements: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, additional requirements have been put in place to ensure the health and safety of travelers. Before traveling, make sure to check the latest travel advisories provided by both the Israeli and UK governments. Common requirements may include pre-travel testing, mandatory quarantine upon arrival, and filling out health declaration forms. Stay updated on any changes in the requirements as they may vary depending on the current situation.
• Travel Insurance: It is strongly recommended to have appropriate travel insurance that covers medical expenses, trip cancellation, and other unforeseen events. While this may not be a mandatory requirement, having travel insurance offers peace of mind and financial protection in case of emergencies during your trip.
• Proof of Accommodation and Financial Means: Immigration officials may ask for proof of accommodation and sufficient funds to support your stay in the UK. It is advisable to have hotel reservations, a letter of invitation if staying with friends or family, and proof of financial means such as bank statements or credit cards.
• Airline Regulations: Different airlines may have their own specific requirements, such as COVID-19 testing or certain documentation. Make sure to check and comply with the regulations set by the airline you are traveling with. Failure to do so may result in denied boarding or other inconveniences.
• Customs Regulations: Familiarize yourself with the customs regulations of both Israel and the UK to avoid any issues while traveling. Be aware of prohibited items and restrictions on bringing certain goods into the country. It is always better to declare any items that may be in question to avoid potential penalties or legal consequences.

Overall, it is essential to plan your trip in advance and have all the necessary documents and requirements in order before traveling from Israel to the UK. By following these steps, you can ensure a smooth and stress-free journey and avoid any unnecessary complications. Remember to stay updated with the latest travel advisories and regulations to make the most of your trip.

Exploring the Macau Travel Restrictions: What You Need to Know

As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions and requirements have become the norm in order to prevent the spread of the virus. However, with the introduction of vaccines, some countries have begun to ease these restrictions for individuals who have been fully vaccinated.

When it comes to travel between Israel and the United Kingdom, there are certain exemptions and requirements for vaccinated individuals. Israel has been at the forefront of the global vaccination effort, with a significant portion of its population having already received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

For individuals traveling from Israel to the UK, there are currently no specific exemptions or relaxed requirements based solely on vaccination status. All travelers are subject to the same entry requirements, including the need to provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. Additionally, travelers are required to complete a passenger locator form and undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine upon arrival in the UK, regardless of their vaccination status.

It is important to note that these requirements and restrictions may change over time as the situation evolves. Therefore, it is advisable to frequently check the official government websites of both Israel and the UK for the most up-to-date information before making any travel plans.

While vaccinated individuals may not be exempt from travel restrictions or requirements, being fully vaccinated can still provide certain advantages. For instance, vaccinated individuals may have a lower risk of contracting and spreading the virus compared to unvaccinated individuals. This can provide a sense of safety and peace of mind while traveling.

Furthermore, some countries may offer certain privileges or exemptions to fully vaccinated individuals in the near future. This is especially likely as more and more individuals around the world receive the vaccine, leading to greater global immunity against COVID-19. It is possible that travel restrictions and requirements may be relaxed or waived for vaccinated individuals in the future, but this will depend on factors such as the effectiveness of the vaccines in reducing transmission and the overall global COVID-19 situation.

In conclusion, while vaccinated individuals traveling from Israel to the UK are currently subject to the same travel restrictions and requirements as unvaccinated individuals, being fully vaccinated can offer certain advantages in terms of personal safety and potentially open up opportunities for future exemptions or privileges. As always, it is important to stay informed and updated on the latest travel information and requirements from both Israel and the UK before making any travel plans.

Understanding Military Base Travel Restrictions: What You Need to Know

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world have implemented various measures to control the spread of the virus. This includes travel restrictions and quarantine or self-isolation requirements for travelers entering different countries. In the case of travel from Israel to the UK, there are indeed quarantine and self-isolation measures in place.

As of the time of writing, the UK government has implemented a traffic light system for international travel. This system categorizes countries into three different colors - green, amber, and red - depending on the COVID-19 risk level. The categorization is based on factors such as the number of COVID-19 cases and the level of vaccine rollout in each country.

Israel is currently categorized as an amber country. This means that travelers arriving in the UK from Israel are required to follow certain quarantine or self-isolation measures. The specific measures vary depending on the vaccination status of the traveler.

Fully vaccinated travelers from Israel are required to take a COVID-19 test before their departure and book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test to be taken after their arrival in the UK. They are not required to self-isolate upon arrival, provided that they have proof of their vaccination status.

On the other hand, non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers from Israel are subject to stricter measures. They are required to take a COVID-19 test before their departure and book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 tests to be taken after their arrival in the UK. They must also self-isolate for a period of 10 days upon arrival, and may be eligible to end their self-isolation early through the Test to Release scheme.

It is important for travelers to carefully review the latest travel requirements and restrictions before planning their trip. The situation may change rapidly, and it is advisable to consult official government sources for the most up-to-date information.

In conclusion, there are quarantine and self-isolation measures in place for travelers from Israel to the UK. The specific measures vary depending on the vaccination status of the traveler. It is essential for travelers to stay informed about the latest travel requirements and follow them accordingly to ensure a safe and smooth journey.

Exploring the Travel Restrictions from Connecticut to New York: How COVID-19 is Impacting Interstate Travel

As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have implemented travel restrictions to control the spread of the virus. The United Kingdom, like many other nations, has implemented specific guidelines and restrictions on international travel. These guidelines apply to travelers from various countries, including Israel.

When it comes to essential travel from Israel to the UK, there is not a specific list of reasons outlined by the UK government. However, the UK has put in place a traffic light system to categorize countries based on their COVID-19 risk levels. These categories include red, amber, and green, with different requirements for each category. Israel is currently classified as an amber list country.

Travelers from amber list countries, including Israel, are subject to specific rules and requirements. These rules are designed to minimize the risk of transmission of the virus and protect public health in the UK. It is important to note that the UK government advises against all non-essential travel to amber list countries. However, in certain circumstances, essential travel may be allowed.

Essential travel from Israel to the UK may include:

• Work-related travel: If you have a job or business commitment that requires you to travel to the UK, this is considered essential travel. However, it is important to provide documentation and proof of the necessity of your travel.
• Education: If you are a student pursuing education in the UK or have a prearranged course of study, you may be eligible for essential travel. This includes both university and school-level education.
• Medical reasons: If you have a medical appointment or need to visit a healthcare professional in the UK, this is considered essential travel. It is important to have evidence of your medical appointment or treatment.
• Compassionate grounds: In certain exceptional circumstances, such as visiting a seriously ill or dying relative, compassionate grounds may be considered for essential travel.

These are just a few examples of reasons for essential travel from Israel to the UK. It is important to note that each case is assessed individually, and the final decision lies with the UK government and immigration authorities.

If you believe your travel falls under the category of essential travel, it is crucial to check the latest travel guidelines and requirements on the official UK government websites. These guidelines are subject to change based on the evolving situation with COVID-19 and are enforced to prioritize public health and safety.

In conclusion, while there is not a specific list of reasons for essential travel from Israel to the UK, travel is not limited to specific individuals only. The UK government has outlined guidelines and requirements for travelers from amber list countries, including Israel. Essential travel may include work-related travel, education, medical reasons, or compassionate grounds. It is essential to stay updated on the latest travel guidelines and requirements and to provide appropriate documentation when traveling for essential reasons.

Navigating Travel Restrictions in Bodega Bay: What You Need to Know

Frequently asked questions.

Yes, currently there are travel restrictions in place for individuals traveling from Israel to the UK. These restrictions are in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are subject to change based on the evolving situation.

At this time, non-essential travel from Israel to the UK is discouraged. The UK government has implemented a traffic light system for international travel, and Israel is currently classified as an "amber" country. This means that tourists from Israel are required to adhere to specific testing and quarantine requirements upon arrival in the UK.

Travelers arriving in the UK from Israel are required to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test and provide proof of a negative result. They must also book and pay for a day two and day eight PCR test to be taken after arrival in the UK. Additionally, travelers from Israel are required to quarantine for a period of 10 days upon arrival, with the option to take a test on day five to shorten the quarantine period.

Transit through the UK is allowed for individuals traveling from Israel to another country, as long as they do not leave the international transit area of the airport. It is important to check the specific transit requirements and restrictions of the destination country before planning any travel itinerary.

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Israel Travel Insurance

Israel tends to get a bad reputation as a holiday destination, because of its history of war and political conflict that many people feel makes it a dangerous place to visit. Whilst visiting some areas of the country is advised against, locations such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea are brilliant places to explore and enjoy as you travel, as long as you bear safety advice for Israel in mind. 

There aren’t many risks in Israel when it comes to health, food, water and crime; the main safety concern for travellers comes from the more frequent occurrence of terrorist attacks in the country. Some locations are at more risk of terror activity than others, but it is wise to keep up to date on Israel’s political situation before and whilst you travel so that you can avoid any potentially dangerous areas or rising conflict, wherever you are visiting.

Because of this high risk of terrorist activity, you must purchase travel insurance for your trip. Not only will this cover you in the event of a last-minute cancellation, but it will also cover the chance of loss or theft of any valuable personal belongings and gadgets whilst on your trip, offering you peace of mind.

Insurance is also important whilst visiting Israel because the country does not offer free healthcare, and in the unlikely event that you are injured either because of terrorist activity or any other incident you will need to pay for treatment upfront. With appropriate insurance, you can be assured that you will receive prompt and high-quality medical attention, which is particularly important if you are travelling with a pre-existing health condition . 

Israel Insurance Cover

Different areas of Israel can require different travel insurance policies, but if you are only visiting the recommended, safer areas of the country then Navigator Travel has a range of insurance options for you. For trips that last under a month, you can purchase our Short Stay Single Trip insurance, whereas those who are planning on staying in the country for a longer holiday will benefit from our Long Stay Single Trip policy. 

It is not only safer to be travelling in a group of friends or family when you are in Israel, but this also makes insurance policies cheaper and offers every member of your party considerable savings. 

If you have any questions about the best options for travel insurance when visiting Israel, get in touch with us here at Navigator Travel for expert advice on the right policy for you.

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March 20, 2024 Israel-Hamas war

By Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Maureen Chowdhury , Elise Hammond , Tori B. Powell and Aditi Sangal , CNN

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expected to travel to Israel Friday

From CNN's Lauren Izso 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to Israel Friday, an Israeli official told CNN.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Wednesday that Blinken will discuss ongoing negotiations to secure the release of all hostages, Israel's planned Rafah offensive and the need to "dramatically increase and sustain the delivery of humanitarian aid" into Gaza.

"He will discuss the need to ensure the defeat of Hamas, including in Rafah, in a way that protects the civilian population, does not hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and advances Israel’s overall security," Miller said.  

Blinken's visit to Israel comes at a critical time, as US and Israeli officials are likely to discuss alternatives to a ground offensive of  Gaza's southern city of Rafah  next week, the White House said.

On Monday, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Biden had asked Netanyahu to send a team to Washington “to hear U.S. concerns about Israel’s current Rafah planning and to lay out an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground invasion.”

But the Israeli statement Tuesday said that Netanyahu “is determined to act in Rafah in order to finally eliminate the remaining Hamas battalions, while providing humanitarian solutions to the civilian population.” 

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will also host Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon next week, according to a defense official.

The official added the meeting comes after Austin extended an invitation for an official visit and is separate from the meeting announced after the call between Biden and Netanyahu.

CNN's Kevin Liptak, Kylie Atwood and Alex Marquardt contributed reporting to this post.

Biden could find himself in an uncomfortable position if Netanyahu ignores his Rafah warnings

From CNN's Kevin Liptak, Kylie Atwood and Alex Marquardt

When President Joe Biden  asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on  Monday to dispatch a team of top Israeli officials to Washington, his hope was to preempt a large-scale ground invasion of Rafah, which the Biden administration believes would  amount to a humanitarian catastrophe.

Whether the meeting, now likely to occur early next week,  can accomplish that objective remains an open question. But, there are indications that despite Biden's warnings, the Israeli leader remains intent on entering the southern Gaza city.

That leaves Biden in a now-familiar,  if uncomfortable, position: Having staked out a clear position on the invasion, it appears Netanyahu is poised to reject it out of hand.

“Out of respect for the president, we agreed on a way in which they can present us with their ideas, especially on the humanitarian side,” Netanyahu said Tuesday during a speech to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset.

“However, I made it as clear as possible to the president that we are determined to complete the elimination of these battalions in Rafah, and there is no way to do this without a ground incursion,” Netanyahu said.

The invitation to Israeli officials for  talks in Washington comes with certain risks  for Biden, depending how Israel decides to proceed.

Read more about those political risks here.

UK says its largest aid package to Gaza has arrived

From CNN's Mia Alberti

The UK's largest aid delivery to Gaza has entered the enclave, the British Foreign Office said Wednesday.

More than 2,000 tonnes of food aid that entered Gaza via the Jordanian land corridor were being distributed by the World Food Programme and will feed "more than 275,000 people," the office said.

The delivery includes fortified wheat flour for use in bakeries, hot meals, and Ready To Eat (RTE) food parcels.

"The food parcels will be used to feed more than 275,000 people in Gaza. Each food parcel is designed for family of five and consists of canned vegetables, meat and fish, and date bars. The parcel can meet half of the daily calorie needs of the family for 15 days," the Foreign Office said.

The delivery adds to a previous batch of 150 tonnes of UK-funded relief items, including blankets and tents, which arrived last Wednesday and will be distributed by UNICEF, the Foreign Office said.

"A full UK field hospital run by UK-Med has also arrived in Gaza and is now operational and providing life-saving care", the office said.

Imminent famine: The aid comes amid warnings of imminent famine among Palestinians. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the UK continues "to push Israel to allow more crossings to be open and for longer, and for healthcare, water, and sanitation to be restored."

Cameron also urged Israel to open a "land crossing in the north" and allow the entry of more UN staff to facilitate the delivery of aid in Gaza to tackle "the devastating and growing humanitarian crisis."

Israeli raid continues at Al-Shifa Hospital, where thousands are sheltering. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

An Israeli military raid launched on Monday is ongoing at Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, where thousands of people are sheltering in dire conditions .

Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal told CNN the hospital is  "besieged" by Israeli forces . The Israeli military said the site was being used by "senior Hamas terrorists."

Inside the hospital, people have reported being detained and “ severely beaten ,” and being fearful of moving between rooms. Others have called for " urgent intervention before the hospital turns into a mass grave ."

Here are the latest developments in the war:

• Warnings about hunger:  Famine is set to break out in  northern Gaza  between now and May, a UN-backed report warns. The World Health Organization issued another stark warning about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, with a spokesperson saying that a  growing number of infants  are on the “brink of death” from acute hunger. Israel's sustained restrictions on aid to Gaza may amount to the  war crime of starvation , UN rights chief Volker Turk also said. 
• Rafah plan:  US and Israeli officials  are expected to meet  in Washington next week to discuss alternatives to a planned military ground offensive in Gaza's southern city of Rafah, where about 1.5 million displaced people are sheltering.
• Ceasefire talks:  An Israeli delegation left Qatar after one day of indirect talks with  no breakthrough  in a ceasefire-hostages deal, but mediators are "cautiously optimistic" about the restart of discussions and negotiations will continue. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will  visit Saudi Arabia and Egypt  this week for talks on efforts to secure a ceasefire.
• Hostages:  The  Israeli military sent text messages  to Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday offering cash in exchange for any information about Israeli hostages. A CNN journalist in Gaza received the message in Arabic on their phone.
• Officials meet: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address Senate Republicans during their closed-door conference lunch today via video, according to a person familiar with the matter. Next week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will host his Israeli counterpart at the Pentagon, according to a defense official. 

Netanyahu will address US Senate Republicans via video today

From CNN's Manu Raju

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address Senate Republicans during their closed-door conference lunch today via video, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Netanyahu’s appearance today comes as Senate Republicans have rallied around him after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called Netanyahu an obstacle to peace last week.

Netanyahu was invited by Sen. John Barrasso last week to address Senate Republicans during their annual retreat but he couldn’t make it.

Netanyahu confidant and Israeli national security adviser will visit DC to discuss Rafah offensive

From CNN's Alex Marquardt and Sahar Akbarzai

One of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closest confidants, Ron Dermer, and Israel's national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi will be heading to Washington, DC, to meet with US officials, according to a statement from Netanyahu's office obtained by CNN.

The statement did not say which US officials the Israeli delegation will meet with or when the visit will happen. The White House said it expects the visit to happen  early next week . 

Dermer is currently a member of Israel’s war cabinet and a former ambassador to the United States.

The US has been calling on Israel to explain how it intends to keep safe over 1 million Palestinians who are seeking refuge in southern Gaza, as Israel warns that it will soon launch a military offensive into Rafah. So far, US President Joe Biden's administration says a plan has not been presented.

US wants Rafah alternatives: On Monday, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters Biden had asked Netanyahu to send a team to Washington “to hear U.S. concerns about Israel’s current Rafah planning and to lay out an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground invasion.”

The Israeli delegation will be accompanied by a representative — who was not named — for Israel’s Coordination of Government Actions in the Territories, the statement said.

Growing number of infants in Gaza are on the "brink of death" due to lack of food, WHO warns

From CNN’s Ibrahim Dahman

The World Health Organization issued another stark warning about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and a spokesperson on Tuesday said a growing number of infants there are on the “brink of death” from acute hunger.

"What doctors and medical staff are telling us is, more and more, they are seeing the effects of starvation; they’re seeing newborn babies simply dying because they (have) too low birth weight," WHO spokesperson Dr. Margaret Harris said.

While young children and infants are among the least able to cope with chronic hunger, the WHO says there is a rising number of dangerously underweight pregnant women, as well.

"This is entirely man-made, everything we're seeing medically; this was a territory where the health system functioned well," Harris said.

The WHO was aiming to build emergency malnutrition stabilization centers in Gaza, but progress had been hampered by a lack of security.

One center had been established in southern Gaza, and the WHO is attempting to establish one in northern Gaza, “but we can’t bring them in at the scale and to the people without the access and the safety. So there is no answer until there’s a ceasefire,” Harris said.

US and Israel talks on Rafah are likely to occur "early next week," White House says

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

A meeting in Washington between US and Israeli officials to discuss alternatives to a ground invasion of  Gaza's southern city of Rafah  is likely to occur next week, the White House said.

US President Joe Biden asked  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  in a phone call Monday to dispatch a delegation of military, intelligence and humanitarian officials to Washington to discuss the Rafah plans.

The timing of the meeting was unclear Monday, but press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday it was likely to happen early next week. She didn't have additional details on who would participate in the talks.

On Monday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the meeting was intended to bring officials together in the same room at a critical moment in the conflict.

"Now we really need to get down to brass tacks and have the chance for a delegation from each side on an integrated basis — everyone sitting around the same table, talking through the way forward," Sullivan said.

Aid group confirms 200 tons of food from first ship delivered successfully to northern Gaza 

From CNN's Muhammad Darwish and Niamh Kennedy in London

The nonprofit that organized the first aid boat to Gaza said Tuesday that the boat's cargo of food aid has been delivered to northern Gaza. 

The roughly 200 tons of aid was delivered to northern Gaza alongside a World Food Program convoy on Tuesday morning, World Central Kitchen (WCK) said. 

Fears are mounting over hunger in northern Gaza after a United Nations-backed report published on Monday warned that  famine could break out any time  from mid-March to May.

WCK is now pushing for Arab nations to band together to create a coalition "to get humanitarian food aid to Gaza immediately through all routes available; land, air and sea." 

The nonprofit said it has a second boat, named Jennifer, loaded with 240 tons of aid and ready to depart Cyprus. Unfavorable weather conditions have prevented the second boat from leaving the port of Larnaca, WCK said. 

Alongside canned food and bulk products, the boat has also been loaded with two forklifts and a crane to assist future aid deliveries to Gaza, according to the NGO. 

Remember:  While welcoming the success of the maritime corridor into Gaza, aid agencies and the UN have warned that sea deliveries and airdrops remain  much less effective  methods of delivering aid than over land.  

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UK aid for Gaza 'stuck at border for weeks' as David Cameron blames Israel for delays

The uk has sent enough food for 275,000 people in gaza, amid warnings of an "imminent famine" in the war-ravaged territory. the foreign secretary has blamed israel for blocking supplies, while the israelis blame the un for failing to distribute the aid..

By Alex Rossi, International correspondent @alexrossiSKY

Thursday 21 March 2024 21:56, UK

Foreign Secretary David Cameron has accused Israel of delaying UK aid to Gaza, saying some supplies have been stuck at the border for almost three weeks.

In a letter to the Commons foreign affairs select committee chair Alicia Kearns, Lord Cameron said it was "of enormous frustration", blaming "arbitrary denials" by the Israeli government as one of the "main blockers" of the aid.

He also contradicted claims by former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy - who has been suspended - that the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south of Gaza had been closed on Saturdays at the request of the UN.

Lord Cameron said Israel closes it "due to the Sabbath".

Israel rejected claims it is blocking aid from going into Gaza, saying the crossing is closed "by agreement with the UN".

It blamed the UN's failure to distribute the aid.

In response to the letter, COGAT, the Israeli body which coordinates humanitarian aid to Gaza, invited Ms Kearns to "meet with COGAT and hear the full scale of Israel's humanitarian efforts towards the Gaza Strip".

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It comes as the US is set to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as part of a hostage deal in a UN Security Council resolution on Friday.

In spite of Lord Cameron's criticism, Downing Street believed Israel was acting within international humanitarian law.

The UK has provided food for 275,000 people in Gaza , amid warnings of an "imminent famine" in the war-ravaged territory .

COGAT said on Thursday that 208 humanitarian aid trucks were inspected by Israel and transferred to the Gaza Strip, mostly carrying food.

They said 155 trucks were distributed by UN aid agencies.

Lord Cameron said: "Before the conflict, around 500 trucks (of both aid and commercial items) entered Gaza each day. The daily average for the first part of March has been around 165 trucks a day, although there is significant fluctuation from day to day.

"This is an improvement over January and February, but still more urgent progress is needed."

He has called on Israel to open a land crossing in the north, which is currently being trialled by Israeli authorities, as well as more visas to UN staff to deliver supplies.

Read more: Woman held hostage by Hamas describes ordeal Israeli forces 'reinvade Gaza City' after al Shifa hospital raid

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing pressure from Western allies over plans to invade the southern city of Rafah and has been accused of restricting the flow of aid.

Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of UNRWA, the UN body that delivers aid to Gaza, told Sky News' The World With Yalda Hakim on Wednesday: " It is easy to flood Gaza with food . It is easy to reverse this trend.

"It is a stain in our collective humanity that such a situation is artificially unfolding under our eyes."

UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron expresses 'enormous frustration' at Israel delaying aid into Gaza

• David Cameron
• Friday 22 March 2024 at 9:45am

Lord Cameron says he feels "enormous frustration" that UK aid for Gaza has been delayed by Israel, who he accused of blocking urgently needed supplies into the territory.

UK aid to Gaza has been stuck at the border for almost three weeks waiting for approval by the Israeli government, the foreign secretary has revealed.

In a letter published by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Lord Cameron said aid had been “routinely held up waiting for Israeli permissions”, blaming “arbitrary denials” by the Israeli government as one of the “main blockers” to assistance for the territory.

Lord Cameron also contradicted claims by Israeli spokesman Eylon Levy that the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south of the Gaza Strip had been closed on Saturdays at the request of the UN.

Israeli and British media have reported that Mr Levy has been suspended by the Israeli government.

Mr Levy's suspension comes amid a public row with Lord Cameron on X. The foreign secretary urged Israel to "allow more trucks [of aid] into Gaza", and Mr Levy replied: "I hope you are also aware there are NO limits on the entry of food, water, medicine, or shelter equipment into Gaza, and in fact the crossings have EXCESS capacity."

"Test us. Send another 100 trucks a day to Kerem Shalom and we'll get them in," Mr Levy wrote.

In his letter to the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Alicia Kearns, Mr Cameron wrote: "In response to the Israeli spokesman claims... I can confirm that the UN has not requested that the Kerem Shalom crossing is closed on Saturdays. It is our understanding that Israel closes it due to the Sabbath.”

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Prior to October 7, around 500 trucks entered Gaza each day, but the daily average for the first half of March has been just 165 lorries. Lord Cameron said this was an improvement on January and February, but “urgent progress” was still needed.

The Israeli authorities have claimed the UN is failing to distribute aid.

But in his letter sent on March 15, Lord Cameron said: “The main blockers remain arbitrary denials by the government of Israel and lengthy clearance procedures, including multiple screenings and narrow opening windows in daylight hours.”

Saying it was “vital” to increase the number of aid trucks going into Gaza, Lord Cameron said he and Rishi Sunak had raised the issue “consistently” with the Israeli government and he would “continue to press this point”.

He also reiterated calls for Israel to issue more visas to the UN staff needed to increase the distribution of aid, noting the Association of International Development Agencies said Israel had more than 50 visa applications pending.

Ms Kearns said she was “grateful” to the foreign secretary for being “clear and candid” in his letter.

She said: “Today’s letter confirms what we saw and heard on our visit to the border area – that Israel’s arbitrary denials and lengthy clearance processes are key factors in holding up the delivery of aid.

“It also confirms that Israel has the ability and power to turn the water back on in Gaza, and so far has chosen not to do so.

“If the famine continues along its current trajectory, thousands of Gazans will lose their lives. This is suffering on an unimaginable scale.”

Ms Kearns also called on Israel to open more border crossings and the port at Ashdod to enable more aid to reach Gaza, calling the situation “one of the most desperate, distressing humanitarian disasters in recent memory”.

Earlier this month, Lord Cameron used a meeting with a member of Israel's war cabinet to begin issuing a "whole series of warnings" to the country over aid reaching the Gaza Strip.

The meeting with Benny Gantz, a retired Israeli military general, came as humanitarian organisations warned of the growing threat of starvation and disease in the territory.

On Thursday, Downing Street said the UK enjoyed a “close working relationship” with Israel, despite signs of strain between the Foreign Office and Tel Aviv.

Despite Lord Cameron’s criticism, Downing Street said the government still believed that Israel was acting within international humanitarian law.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: “Our assessment hasn’t changed. We do keep it under constant review and act in accordance with that advice.”

Speaking in Parliament earlier this month, Lord Cameron said the amount of aid that reached Gaza in February was just half that of the previous month.

He also made clear Israel as the occupying power was responsible, which had consequences under international humanitarian law.

"We are facing a situation of dreadful suffering in Gaza. There can be no doubt about that," he said.

"I spoke some weeks ago about the danger of this tipping into famine and the danger of illness tipping into disease and we are now at that point.

"People are dying of hunger. People are dying of otherwise preventable disease."

On Friday, a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an Israeli-Hamas hostage deal will be put to a vote at the UN Security Council.

The resolution was put forward by the US, and is expected to pass.

Both the US and the UK have been hardening their stance on Israel's actions in Gaza, on Thursday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said an Israeli assault on Gaza's Rafah would be a "mistake".

On Thursday, the Archbishop of Canterbury added his voice to those warning of an impending famine in Gaza.

The Most Rev Justin Welby said: “Israel’s prosecution of this war has destroyed large parts of the Gaza Strip – decimating infrastructure essential to human survival.

“The scarcity of humanitarian access to and within the Strip continues to prevent aid workers from distributing life-saving supplies.

“We should not become numb to this injustice. It can never be normal for parents to use animal fodder or grass to feed their children.”

Lord Cameron is currently in Australia, signing a defence and security agreement.

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Is Ireland exceptionally pro-Palestine?

As the israel-hamas war wears on, we appear to be increasingly at odds with our western counterparts.

‘T he cries of the innocent will haunt us for ever if we stay silent,” Leo ­Varadkar told a room of high-profile American politicians as he made his final St Patrick’s Day trip to the United States as taoiseach before announcing his departure from office last week.

“We all know that there are guilty people who perpetrated unspeakable acts of terrorism,” Varadkar said. “But there are innocent men, women and children suffering for their sins.” The taoiseach’s comments may have surprised many Irish-Americans — more used to an annual knees-up on ­Capitol Hill where free-flowing Guinness, not geopolitics, is on the table.

After facing down domestic pressure to boycott the US festivities, Varadkar vowed to use his private audience with Joe Biden, the US president, to lobby for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Yet a lukewarm response in the White House only serves to highlight a significant divide that has opened up between America and its much-loved ancestral home.

As the Israel’s war in Gaza wears on, Ireland appears increasingly at odds with its western counterparts. Just how exceptional is Ireland’s pro-Palestinian support? Aggregate polling that compares Irish attitudes with other countries on Gaza is sparse. But similar polls compiled at the same time indicate that Ireland stands out.

While an independent UN investigation is continuing, Micheál Martin, the tanaiste, responded to the crisis by pledging continued support to the agency alongside five other countries — Spain, Norway, Belgium, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. In addition, Ireland increased its aid pledge to €20 million this year, 2.5 times what it was before the war in 2022.

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While the Irish government has so far abstained from joining South Africa’s case in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide, the government has said it is “strongly considering” doing so pending further analysis of the legal arguments as the case progresses.

Already, 79 per cent of Irish people think that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, when asked on February 2, according to the most recent polling by Ireland Thinks. By comparison, 34 per cent of US adults consider what was happening to Arabs in Gaza to be a genocide when polled in November by YouGov. Why does Ireland feel so strongly on this issue compared with the rest of the West?

Ireland was not always staunchly pro-Palestinian, said Bill Kissane, an associate professor of politics at the London School of Economics and member of the Conflict Research Group, which examines violent conflicts.

In the 1930s and 1940s, he said, there was a “strong mutual relationship” between Irish republicans and Zionism — both seen as anti-colonial struggle. While the Irish state remained neutral in the Second World War, President de Valera had a positive relationship with Jewish leaders, with his government recognising the Jewish community in the 1937 constitution. He later visited Israel, where a forest outside Tel Aviv was named after him.

“The reason for this parting of the ways for Ireland as a state and then Israel as a state after 1948 was the question of partition,” Kissane said. “Internationally it’s a bad word — always associated with colonial statecraft — what colonial powers do to countries when they’re departing. To recognise the partition of Israel and Palestine would have been to recognise the partition of Northern Ireland.”

As the Troubles engulfed Northern Ireland from the 1970s into the end of the century, involving ethno-sectarian violence, mass internment, terrorist attacks and the killing of innocent civilians, Irish republicans gained an affinity with the Palestinians while some loyalists adopted support for Israel in response. “Sinn Fein was tapping into a historical sentiment that there are parallels between what Palestinians experienced historically and what Ireland did under British rule,” Kissane said. “Ultimately it has come down to nationalism, which has probably gotten stronger in recent years.”

As a result Ireland didn’t recognise the state of Israel until 1963, didn’t establish diplomatic relations until 1975 and didn’t open an Israeli embassy in Ireland until 1994. “There can be a tendency — and we see this … in the street murals in Belfast — to see the conflict through the prism of Northern Ireland where republican nationalists sympathise with Palestine and loyalists/unionists with Israel,” said Jane Ohlmeyer, professor of modern history at Trinity College Dublin. “However, this does not mean Catholics are anti-Zionists and Protestants anti-Palestinian.”

To this day Ireland does not have a large Jewish population, with about 2,700 Jews representing less than 0.05 per cent of the total population. Neither has Ireland recorded many antisemitic incidents in recent years, according to a study by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which reported “a handful” of incidents.

Still, Ireland is not devoid of antisemitic beliefs. The most recent public survey on antisemitism by the Anti-Defamation League in 2014 found 20 per cent of Irish respondents agreed with a majority of antisemitic statements when polled — scoring slightly below average compared with 102 other countries.

In 2021, the Institute for National Security Studies — a research institute in Tel Aviv studying antisemitism in different countries — concluded that “the Irish public are opposed to colonialism all over the world, thus explaining the widespread Irish support for the Palestinian claims in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”.

“The vocal criticism of Israel’s policies sometimes has deteriorated into demonstrations of hostility toward Israel and even antisemitic stereotypes,” it added.

“Parallel to the public discourse, members of Ireland’s political system have expressed vehement criticism of Israel’s policy in the occupied territories.”

Varadkar echoed this differing post-colonial perspective in his speech in the White House on St Patrick’s Day.

“We see our history in their eyes,” he said. “A story of displacement, of dispossession and national identity questioned and denied, forced emigration, discrimination, and now hunger.”

Yet one unifying strand between Ireland and America remains strong – the Northern Irish peace process.

“The United States helped us to find peace,” said Varadkar as he relayed stories of his time as a Capitol Hill intern as a young graduate as part of a post-Troubles peace program. “Now let us work together to build a just and lasting peace in the Middle East for Israel, Palestine, and its Arab neighbours.”

Professor Ohlmeyer said it is this US-Irish link that may help inspire a way forward.

“Despite Irish experiences of settler colonialism, the Good Friday agreement has forged peace on the island of Ireland,” Ohlmeyer said. “Might this, Ireland’s two-state solution, be a ray of hope at an incredibly dark moment and in time provide a template for securing peace in the Middle East?”

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Palestinian citizen of Israel granted UK asylum in case said to be unprecedented

‘Hasan’, 24, argued he would face persecution in Israel on grounds of his race, faith and its ‘apartheid regime’

A Palestinian citizen of Israel has been granted asylum in the UK after claiming he would face persecution in his home country on the grounds of his race, his Muslim faith and his opinion that Israel “is governed by an apartheid regime”.

“Hasan”, whose real identity is not being disclosed for his own protection, has attended pro-Palestinian protests in the UK, and his lawyers also argued that his activism would place him at increased risk of hostile attention on his return.

His lawyers said on Tuesday they believed the Home Office decision was unprecedented in the case of a Palestinian who held an Israeli passport.

The 24-year-old is understood to have spent most of his life in the UK. He had claimed asylum to avoid being sent to Israel, and a first-tier tribunal hearing had been due to take place today. However, the Home Office unexpectedly caved in on Monday and granted Hasan asylum, so avoiding a hearing in which his legal team were intending to argue that Palestinian citizens of Israel were unsafe, and in particular those that were willing to speak out.

It was Hasan’s belief, his lawyers said, that Israel was governed by “an apartheid regime that engages in systematic and pervasive discrimination, persecution and violence touching on all aspects of Palestinian life”.

Hasan’s lawyers had made a supplementary claim after the start of the Hamas-Israel war, which followed Hamas’s surprise attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. They argued that the security situation for Palestinian citizens of Israel had worsened further as the war in Gaza had gone on.

About a fifth of Israel’s population – about 2 million people – is Palestinian although that figure also includes the Arab population of East Jerusalem who have a lesser status, that of permanent residents.

Franck Magennis, a barrister at Garden Court chambers, said while it was not uncommon for Palestinians from Gaza to obtain asylum in the UK, he could not find reference to a similar case applying to a Palestinian from Israel.

“What’s so shocking about this case is that Israel is normally considered a staunch ally of the UK government, and that the UK considers it the only democracy in the Middle East and in no way an apartheid regime. But what this reflects is a staggering contradiction in the heart of British foreign policy,” Magennis said.

Israel has long rejected arguments that it pursues an apartheid-like policy towards Palestinians. It argues that its war against Hamas was undertaken in self-defence and is aimed at elimination of the group as a political and military threat.

The Home Office did not give any reasons for accepting Hasan’s asylum claim when it withdrew its objections on Monday. When contacted on Tuesday, officials said they did not routinely comment on individual cases.

A Home Office spokesperson added: “All asylum claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the immigration rules. Where more information is provided or becomes available, the outcome of a decision can change.”

British foreign policy towards Israel, initially strongly supportive after the Hamas attack, has shifted in recent weeks to focusing on the need for a humanitarian pause in the fighting in Gaza, where the bulk of the strip’s 2.3 million prewar population are sheltering in dire conditions in and around Rafah in the south.

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• Palestinian territories
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