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Israel and the Occupied Territories


This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments throughout. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
We advise against all travel to Gaza and to the Sheba’a Farms and Ghajar, along the border with Lebanon (the “Blue Line”). We also advise against all but essential travel to areas within 5kms of the Gaza perimeter (including Sderot) and the West Bank (except for Bethlehem, Ramallah and Jericho although you should avoid travelling to these places during the hours of darkness. See the Terrorism/Security section of this advice for more details.


It would be reckless to travel to Gaza at this time. We believe that terrorist groups continue to maintain the intent and capability to kidnap foreigners, as the kidnap of a British journalist in March 2007 demonstrated. If, despite this advice, you decide to travel to, or remain in, Gaza you do so at your own risk. You should review your security arrangements and seek professional security advice on whether they are adequate. The level of consular assistance we can provide is very limited.


If you wish to leave Gaza, you should contact the British Consulate-General in Jerusalem for advice before attempting to do so. Entering Gaza can involve lengthy delays and searches while leaving Gaza is even more difficult. Since the beginning of 2008 there have been several incidents of British nationals undergoing strip-searches, and delays of over several hours are common.


There is a high threat from terrorism in Israel. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. The most recent serious incident occurred on 6 March 2008 when a shooting took place at a religious college in West Jerusalem, eight deaths and dozens wounded.


You are strongly advised to maintain a high level of vigilance when travelling anywhere in Jerusalem, and to follow local advice. You should take sensible precautions to protect yourself and your belongings. Demonstrations have the potential to turn violent. For immediate, specific information about planned demonstrations or any other events which may affect the local security situation, you should register with the Consulate-General in Jerusalem.


The main types of incidents for which British nationals required consular assistance in 2007 were: replacing lost and stolen passports; arrests or detentions, for a variety of offences; and assisting those who encountered security problems in the OPTs or difficulties at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.


We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Many policies do not cover you if your claim is the result of terrorism. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
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Kind regards,

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