Palestine
Warnings and insurance
This travel advice covers Israel and Palestine.
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Gaza
- FCDO advises against all travel to Gaza
Areas near Gaza
- FCDO advises against all travel within 500m of the border with Gaza
The West Bank
FCDO advises against all travel to:
- Tulkarm Governorate, Jenin Governorate, and Tubas Governorate except Route 90
Northern Israel and Occupied Golan Heights
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FCDO advises against all travel within 500m of the Area of Separation in the occupied Golan Heights (the ‘Alpha line’). Do not attempt to enter the occupied Golan Heights through Syria.
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FCDO advises against all travel to the Sheba’a Farms and Ghajja
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the rest of Israel and Palestine. Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
Regional risks
There is a heightened risk of regional tension. Escalation could lead to travel disruption and other unanticipated impacts.
British nationals should take sensible precautions, considering their own individual circumstances. These include:
- read If you’re affected by a crisis abroad - GOV.UK. This includes guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”
- sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts
- monitor local and international media for the latest information
- sign up to local information alerts/resources and follow the instructions of the local authorities
- stay away from areas around security or military facilities
If you are in Israel and Palestine
Due to ongoing regional tensions, we recommend against all but essential travel to Israel and Palestine. We continue to recommend against all travel to parts of Israel and Palestine.
Due to the ongoing security situation, we have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily move some of our staff and their dependents from Tel Aviv to another location within Israel. Our Embassy continues to operate as normal. The situation could escalate quickly and poses significant risks. Regional tensions may cause international borders (air and land) to close.
If you are in Israel and Palestine, be aware that whilst the frequency of missile and drone attacks has decreased, there is still a risk of rocket and drone attacks throughout Israel. There is a risk of shrapnel from intercepted missiles falling across Israel and Palestine, and possible disruption at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.
Political tension can cause demonstrations and clashes around anniversaries and significant events.
Keep up to date through local media and follow the instructions of Israeli Home Front Command. To find these:
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visit the Israeli Home Front Command website (available in Israel only)
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call 104 if you are in Israel
Before travelling within Israel or Palestine, check the local measures in place, that roads are open and, where appropriate, that scheduled train and bus services are operating.
Travel within or out of Israel or Palestine 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.
Leaving Gaza
Border crossings out of Gaza have been closed to civilians and general traffic since the Israeli military took control of the Rafah crossing on 6 May 2024. Consular support is not available from within Gaza. If you are a British national in Gaza who wants to leave Gaza, you should make contact with us as soon as possible. There are currently no exit routes available for foreign nationals to depart Gaza independently. We are working with the Israeli, Palestinian and other authorities in the region to help British nationals leave via safe routes.
If you are a UK visa holder who meets all of the following criteria, you can contact us to request support to leave Gaza if:
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you have a spouse/partner or a child aged 17 or under currently living in the UK, and
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you hold valid permission to enter or remain in the UK for longer than 6 months
Help from other organisations
Keep up to date with local travel advice through local news outlets and international outlets like the Access Coordination Unit.
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.
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