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Reissued Statement
There were no changes to the Travel Advisory Level. The health risk indicator was added for Gaza. Advisory summary was updated to reflect that family members may travel to Israel.
Reconsider Travel to Israel due to terrorism and unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
Advisory summary
As of August 26, 2026, family members may join U.S. government employees who work in Israel.
U.S. government employee travel restrictions
U.S. government employees working in Israel are restricted from the following locations due to safety risks:
Any official travel of U.S. government personnel within these areas requires approval from the U.S. embassy’s security office.
Additional movement restrictions may be imposed on U.S. government employees working in Israel, with little to no notice, due to increased security issues or threats.
Terrorism
There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Israel. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more.
Unrest
The security environment in Israel is complex and can change quickly. Violence can occur without warning. Increased regional tensions can cause airlines to cancel or limit flights into and out of Israel.
Risks in specific areas
Level 4 – Do Not Travel
Areas north of Route 85 to Route 90 (south) to Route 87
Do Not Travel to areas north of Route 85 to Route 90 (south) to Route 87 due to armed conflict.
The Israeli authorities restrict travel to areas north of Route 85 to Route 90 (south) to Route 87 due to Israeli Defense Forces presence and activity. Do not travel to this area for any reason.
U.S. government employees working in Israel are not allowed to travel to areas north of Route 85 to Route 90 (south) to Route 87. Any official travel of U.S. government personnel within these areas requires approval from the U.S. embassy’s security office.
Within 11.3 kilometers/7 miles of the Gaza Strip
Do Not Travel within 11.3 kilometers/7 miles of the Gaza Strip due to armed conflict.
Within 2.4 kilometers/1.5 miles of the Israel-Egypt border
Do Not Travel within 2.4 kilometers/1.5 miles of the Israel-Egypt border, except at the area of the Taba border crossing, also known as the Menachem Begin crossing, due to armed conflict.
If you decide to travel to Israel:
Reconsider Travel to West Bank due to terrorism and unrest.
Advisory summary
U.S. government employee travel restrictions
U.S. government employees working in Israel must obtain special authorization for official travel to the West Bank due to safety risks.
U.S. government employees working in Israel and their family members are currently restricted from all personal travel to the West Bank, except:
Due to increased security threats, additional movement restrictions may be imposed on U.S. government employees working in Israel, with little to no notice.
Terrorism
During the last year, there has been an increase in terrorist attacks in the West Bank.
There is a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in West Bank. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more.
Unrest
During the last year, there has been an increase in violence and Israeli military operations in the West Bank. Some incidents have resulted in injury or the death of U.S. citizens.
During periods of unrest, the Israeli government may restrict access to and within the West Bank. Some areas may be placed under curfew.
If you decide to travel to the West Bank:
Do Not Travel to Gaza due to terrorism, unrest, and limited health infrastructure.
Advisory Summary:
Restrictions on U.S. Government Personnel Movement
U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling to Gaza for any reason due to safety risks. The U.S. government is unable to provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Gaza.
Terrorism
Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists, and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, and local government facilities. The security environment is complex and can change quickly.
There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Gaza. Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more.
Unrest
The security environment within Gaza and on its borders is extremely dangerous and volatile.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) that needs our assistance, and you have not already provided your information to the Department of State, please email U.S. Embassy Jerusalem at [email protected].
Health
Emergency and intensive care facilities are limited in Gaza. Hospitals and clinics lack basic resources.
For U.S. citizens in Gaza:
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A SPECIFIC CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE APPROPRIATE FOREIGN AUTHORITIES OR FOREIGN COUNSEL.
U.S. Embassy Jerusalem
14 David Flusser Street
Jerusalem 93392
Telephone: + (972) (2) 630-4000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (972) (2) 622-7230
Email: [email protected]
Contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem for information and assistance in Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza (including the Erez Crossing), and the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank.
U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs
18 Agron Road
Jerusalem 9419003
Telephone: + (972) (2) 630-4000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (972) (2) 622-7230
Email: [email protected]
U.S. Embassy Jerusalem Branch Office Tel Aviv
71 HaYarkon Street
Tel Aviv Israel 63903
Telephone: + (972) (3) 519-7575
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: + (972) (3) 519-7551
Email: [email protected]
Contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv for information and assistance in Israel outside of Jerusalem, and the northern (Sheikh Hussein) and southern (Yitzhak Rabin) border crossings connecting Israel and Jordan, and the border crossings between Israel and Egypt.
List of Attorneys - U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv
Israel is a party to the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extra Judicial Documents in Civil and Commercial Matters. Complete information on the operation of the Convention, including an interactive online request form are available on the Hague Conference website. Requests should be completed in duplicate and submitted with two sets of the documents to be served, and translations, directly to Israel’s Central Authority for the Hague Service Convention. The person in the United States executing the request form should be either an attorney or clerk of court. The applicant should include the titles attorney at law or clerk of court on the identity and address of applicant and signature/stamp fields. The Israeli Central Authority advises that the documents to be served must be written in or translated into either Hebrew, English or Arabic. If another method of service is required or preferred, that method should be specified and relevant laws or regulations should be cited in the space provided on request form. In its Declarations and Reservations on the Hague Service Convention, Israel did not formally object to service under Article 10(a) of the Convention regarding service via postal channels. For additional information see the Hague Conference Service Convention web page and the Hague Conference Practical Handbook on the Operation of the Hague Service Convention. See also Israel’s response to the 2008 Hague Conference questionnaire on the practical operation of the Service Convention.
Service on a Foreign State: See also our Service Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) feature and FSIA Checklist for questions about service on a foreign state, agency or instrumentality.
Service of Documents from Israel in the United States: See information about service in the United States on the U.S. Central Authority for the Service Convention page of the Hague Conference on Private International Law Service Convention site.
Prosecution Requests: U.S. federal or state prosecutors should also contact the Office of International Affairs, Criminal Division, Department of Justice for guidance.
Defense Requests in Criminal Matters: Criminal defendants or their defense counsel seeking judicial assistance in obtaining evidence or in effecting service of documents abroad in connection with criminal matters may do so via the letters rogatory process.
Israel is a party to the Hague Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil and Commercial Matters. Israel’s Central Authority for the Hague Evidence Convention designated to receive letters of request for the taking of evidence is the Ministry of Justice. See the Hague Evidence Convention Model Letters of Request for guidance on preparation of the letter of request. Requests for the compulsion of evidence under the Hague Evidence Convention are transmitted directly from the requesting court or person in the United States to the Israel Central Authority and do not require transmittal via diplomatic channels. Letters of Request and accompanying documents should be prepared in duplicate and translated into English or Hebrew. See Israel’s Declarations and Reservations regarding the Hague Evidence Convention. See also Israel’s response to the 2008 Hague Conference questionnaire on the practical operation of the Hague Evidence Convention.
Requests from Israel to Obtain Evidence in the United States: The U.S. Central Authority for the Hague Evidence Convention is the Office of International Judicial Assistance, Civil Division, Department of Justice, 1100 L Street N.W., Room 8102, Washington, D.C. 20530.
Voluntary depositions of willing U.S. citizen witnesses may be taken by U.S. Consular Officers and private attorneys without prior permission from Israeli authorities. Voluntary depositions of Israeli and third-country nationals require prior permission from the Israeli Central Authority for the Hague Evidence Convention. The taking of telephone and video-teleconference testimony of willing witnesses is permitted, assuming permission is granted when the witness is an Israeli or third country national. A deposition can be taken on notice from either party’s attorney or pursuant to a commission issued by a U.S. court. If taken on notice, the notice must state the time, place for taking the deposition and the name and address of each person to be examined. If the services of a U.S. consular officer are required to administer an oath to the witness, interpreter and stenographer, such arrangements must be made in advance with the U.S. embassy directly. If the deposition is taken pursuant to a commission, prior permission of the Israeli Central Authority is required.
Israel is a party to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization of Foreign Public Documents. Israel’s competent authority for the Hague Apostille Convention will authenticate Israeli public documents with Apostilles. For information about authenticating U.S. public documents for use in Israel, see the list of U.S. Competent Authorities. To obtain an Apostille for a U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America, contact the U.S. Department of State, Passport Services, Vital Records Office.
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