Sweden Advises Its Citizens Against Travel to Areas Closer Than 5km From Israel’s Border With Gaza

In a statement issued yesterday, December 21, the Ministry emphasised that this decision means that the area covered by the advice against non-essential travel in the neighbourhood of Israel towards Gaza has been reduced, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

According to the Ministry, this advice will be valid until further notice. The same also added that when the Ministry issues advice against travel, there may be financial and legal consequences for package/charter travel.

In addition, if the Ministry issues an advisory and the travel organiser cancels the trip, the traveller has the right to receive the amount back.

Israel is in constant conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza.

However, as far as the US State Department is concerned, it does not advise tourists not to travel to Israel but advises US citizens to be informed of “the continuing risks of travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza due to the security situation and increased tensions there, and states ‘do not travel’ to Gaza,”.

In addition, they have also advised travellers to be cautious in the Old City and when travelling to the West Bank.

Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway recommended that its citizens avoid travelling to the regions of Nablus and Jenin on the West Bank.

In this regard, the Ministry pointed out that for a long time, the security situation in the north of the West Bank has been unstable. At the same time, it also noted that the travel advisories to Jenin and Nablus are in addition to the current travel advisories covering Gaza.

Moreover, in Israel and the West Bank, there is a risk of violent incidents, including stabbings, shootings, arson, vehicle crashes, and stone-pelting attacks on people and vehicles, including protesters, Israeli security forces, and civilians.

The risk that tourists or passers-by may be caught in any of these types of incidents is higher than average. Tourists are also warned that if they are in a place where an Israeli security operation or armed clashes are ongoing, they should wait for local authorities to confirm that the situation is calm before moving on to another place.