There are growing fears that the war between Israel and Hamas could escalate into a wider regional conflict.
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In the days following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on 7 October, thousands of people were killed and more than a million people fled their homes in the Gaza Strip in the Palestinian territory, making it one of the deadliest wars in history. The history of Gaza.
While travelers, near and far, watch in horror and sadness as the violence unfolds, many others contemplating travel wait, watch, and wonder if it is still safe to do so.
The global lack of confidence around the standoff has intensified to the point that last week the U. S. State Department issued a global advisory, raising “the possibility of terrorist attacks, protests, or violent movements opposed to U. S. citizens and interests” around the world. As a result, the State Department is advising U. S. citizens traveling abroad to exercise increased caution.
The State Department also recommends foreign travelers in its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), so they can get data and alerts if they are located in an emergency scenario abroad.
Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, a travel and security threat monitoring company, and a member of the U. S. Travel & Tourism Advisory Council, has announced that the U. S. Department of Homeland Security and Tourism has announced that the U. S. Department of Homeland Security has announced that the U. S. Department of Homeland Security has announced that the U. S. Department of Homeland Security has announced that the U. S. Department of Homeland Security and Tourism has announced that the UThe U. S. Department of Commerce’s U. S. Department of Homeland Security says that, given the State Department’s global alert, the war between Israel and Hamas, and imaginable terrorist threats, his company is seeing “an increase in travel fear around the world,” which is “most pronounced in the Middle East. “
“Terrorism and war in one country undermine the confidence of travelers across the region, while facing a radically different threat environment,” Richards said in a statement provided to AFAR.
In addition to violent clashes in Israel and Gaza, pro-Palestinian demonstrations have erupted in cities across Europe, as well as London, Paris, Berlin and Rome, along with vigils denouncing anti-Semitism and expressing support for Israel.
After all those events, here’s what travelers know.
On Oct. 7, Hamas militants carried out a deadly and shocking attack in southern Israel, killing large numbers of civilians and capturing more than 200 hostages held in the Gaza Strip, the Associated Press reported. While the war broke out in retaliation for the militants’ attack, at least 1,400 Israelis have been killed so far and more than 5,400 people have been injured in Israel as a result of the resulting clashes. As of press time, it is estimated that more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 18,000 injured. The Israeli government cut off electricity, water, and fuel in Gaza, and two humanitarian convoys nonetheless arrived in Gaza over the weekend (plus a third on Monday) bringing food, water, and medical supplies.
As devastating as the crisis has been so far, “things are about to get a lot worse,” predicts Zev Faintuch, an intelligence analyst at the foreign security firm Global Guardian and a former member of the Israel Defense Forces. “It’s our expectation. Because Israel is going to go into Gaza at some point and if that provokes a reaction from Lebanon, the Lebanese Hezbollah, then we will find ourselves facing a regional clash that would probably appeal to the United States, it may simply involve fighting in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank and maybe even the Gulf States. And then major unrest in Jordan and potentially in Egypt, as well as in Turkey. For us, the question is when, not if, at least as far as “Clutter is concerned. Across the region, the big question is whether Hezbollah will participate in the clash, and if it does, we’re going to have a primary regional conflagration. “
As we went to press, concerns were growing about a war spreading across the region, the Associated Press reported.
“Israel’s ground offensive in the Gaza Strip would put pressure on Iran and its allied armed groups to respond. Lebanon and Syria will be the most vulnerable to the consequences of the conflict, as pro-Iranian groups founded in those countries will seek to retaliate. “They oppose Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip,” said Julian Moro, senior vice president and regional head of threat security and global security. The international company SOS, affirms AFAR.
Still, Moro remains hopeful that hostilities will not spread to other countries in the region. “Regional states will seek to participate directly in the confrontation unless their national security is directly threatened,” Moro said.
However, he adds, a small miscalculation in either aspect (due to human or technological error, for example) can lead to an immediate escalation and expansion of the conflict.
As Israeli airstrikes on Gaza increase, so do considerations about a wider regional conflict.
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As a result of the turmoil, many flights to and from Israel have been suspended, adding flights operated through United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and major airlines.
While Ben Gurion International Airport remains open lately, the State Department informs U. S. citizens that the availability of advertising flights to and from Israel is incredibly limited, and the U. S. government is not allowing Israel to fly into the market. The U. S. Department of Homeland Security is facilitating charter flights for U. S. citizens, especially on Oct. 26 and 29, seeking to leave Israel.
In its latest travel advisory to Israel, the State Department warns that “terrorist groups, lone terrorists, and other violent extremists continue to prepare for imaginable attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists can strike with little or no warning. “, targeting tourist spots, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning.
Security and threat control firm Crisis24 advises reconsidering everything non-essential for Israel and the Palestinian territories “until the scenario stabilizes, especially in central and southern Israel. “
“Fighting will almost continue in Israel and along the Israel-Gaza border between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants,” says Crisis24.
Tour operators offering land in the region and cruise lines calling in Israel have canceled or replaced those departures. Global tour operator Intrepid has issued a notice stating that all tours in Israel and the Palestinian territories have been canceled, and G Adventures has canceled all of its tours in Israel.
Athens, Greece-based cruise line Celestyal said it was following the scenario and temporarily canceling all calls to Israel.
The State Department also proposed that U. S. citizens in Lebanon make arrangements to leave the country “while [air travel] advertising features are still available lately,” adding that “we propose that U. S. citizens who do not want to leave prepare contingency plans for emergency situations. “. »
Faintuch’s advice for Lebanon: “Get out now. If Hezbollah gets involved in the conflict, all transport [in Lebanon] will disappear instantly,” he said.
As for Iraq, “if you’re a U. S. citizen, definitely get out of there,” Faintuch says.
The State Department notes that U. S. citizens in Iraq deserve to be vigilant about media reports and avoid demonstrations and large gatherings. “American citizens deserve to be aware of the possibility that demonstrations and protests similar to the current ones in Gaza could spread throughout Iraq. “reports the State Department.
Security experts warn that Jordan, with its gigantic Palestinian population, could see an increase in protests condemning Israel’s moves in the Gaza Strip.
“However, the country deserves to refrain from direct involvement in the Israeli conflict, prioritizing national security concerns. Those making plans to go to Jordan deserve to take protective precautions by avoiding spaces where protests are taking and being aware of their location and landscape at all. times,” says Moro of Intercountryal SOS.
Moro warns that “traveling to Egypt right now deserves to be safe, but it’s vital to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings when traveling. “
Currently, safety and security in Egypt “is a bit higher than in Jordan,” says Global Guardian’s Faintuch. However, he warns against anti-Western sentiment in Egypt.
As for the Middle East beyond the regions bordering Israel, Moro advises Israeli citizens living in Middle Eastern and North African countries to “exercise caution and keep a low profile in the coming days, amid heightened tensions. “
As for U. S. travelers, “it is currently appropriate to continue traveling with the protective precautions in place to Bahrain, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates,” Moro said.
Philip Ballard, director of communications for Organization Specialist HotelPlanner and former U. S. Navy Coverage and Counterterrorism Officer. When it comes to the Middle East, the region is vast.
“The Middle East is huge,” says Ballard, adding that “Dubai is 1,600 kilometers from Israel and they have nothing to do with others. Dubai is safe. “
Faintuch adds: “We are much less involved in anti-Western sentiment in the Gulf. Companies are much more embedded in our markets and our businesses. But the challenge is that, like everything, if this clash becomes regional, if there’s any U. S. involvement, those countries can be hit simply through Iran. “
The U. S. Embassy in Belgium advises U. S. citizens to keep an eye out for popular tourist areas, such as Brussels’ central Grand-Place.
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Beyond the Middle East, tensions have also risen globally, in Europe, where protests and attacks have erupted in reaction to clashes between Israel and Hamas.
“Travellers remain vigilant and anticipate increased safety in urban spaces, tourist attractions, key government spaces and public shipping venues in the coming weeks,” notes International SOS.
In addition to considerations about the backlash against U. S. travelers amid anti-Western sentiment, security experts are also advising Jewish and Muslim travelers to be on the lookout for new extremist attacks imaginable in Europe and other parts of the world.
On October 13, the French government raised its security alert formula to the highest level, “Urgence Attentat,” following a terrorist attack in the northern French city of Arras in which a French instructor was killed, French news agency Le Monde reported.
“As a result, citizens and visitors to France can take advantage of increased security in public spaces, adding airports, public transportation, places of worship, tourist sites, schools, primary sports facilities, and giant shopping malls,” the U. S. Embassy in France said. Said. Citizenry.
The Embassy encourages U. S. citizens in France to avoid demonstrations and spaces with intense police activity, exercise extreme caution in the face of large gatherings or demonstrations, monitor local media policy for updates, keep a low profile, and inform their friends and family of their whereabouts.
The Belgian government has “increased the risk point to 4 [which is on a 4-point scale, indicating a ‘very serious’ risk] following an attack in Brussels. The country’s overall risk point has risen to three, indicating a “severe” risk. risks,” says International SOS.
The U. S. Embassy in Belgium issued an alert about a large-scale protest in Brussels over the weekend and reported that smaller protests “are being reported frequently. “
As with the riots in France, the embassy in Belgium advises U. S. citizens to avoid any place where protests are taking place. The embassy also recommended having a convenient cell phone programmed with local emergency numbers (for emergencies in Europe, dial 112; Belgian police can (you can reach 101), while remaining alert and vigilant, adding popular tourist spots.
According to the Global Guardian’s Faintuch, “the global has long since ceased to be what it is now. “
He notes that since the fall of the Soviet Union, the world has been virtually free of interstate conflict until last year, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Faintuch says, “Today we live in a very different world: Ukraine yesterday, Israel and the Middle East. “today, but tomorrow it may also be China and Taiwan. When it comes to big events like this, they tend to cascade over. The global security order is crumbling.
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