The State Department issued a Level 4 advisory to Americans, telling them to avoid traveling to Israel due to its battles with Iran and Hamas.
“Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. … Increased regional tensions can cause airlines to cancel and/or curtail flights into and out of Israel,” the State Department wrote in its advisory.
U.S. government employees still in Israel are also affected. The State Department allowed nonemergency U.S. personnel in Israel and family members of all American personnel in Israel to leave the country on Saturday.
The latest round of hostilities between Israel and Iran began Friday with Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities, followed by an Iranian response starting Saturday.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel was closed Monday and Tuesday, and employees and family members still in Israel have been directed to shelter in place. American civilians, meanwhile, can’t use the embassy to try and leave Israel.
“The U.S. Embassy is not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel,” embassy staff wrote on X.
On its website, the embassy said Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport and seaports are closed. Land crossings to Jordan are open for part of Tuesday and another such pathway to Egypt is open 24 hours a day, the embassy said.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, was scheduled to speak to the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, on Sunday. That trip has been postponed.
“Due to the complex situation currently unfolding in Iran and Israel, Speaker [Amir] Ohana and I have made the decision to postpone the special session of the Knesset. We look forward to rescheduling the address in the near future and send our prayers to the people of Israel and the Middle East,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement.
Previously, the State Department banned U.S. government employees in Israel under a “Chief of Mission security responsibility” from traveling within 7 miles of the Gaza demarcation line, 1.5 miles of Israel’s border with Egypt and 2.5 miles of Israel’s borders with Lebanon and Syria.
