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:

Gaza
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:

MSC Cruises
Oceania

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:

MSC Cruises
Oceania

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:

Do Not Travel To:

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?

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 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.

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.

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.

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