The federal government is advising Canadians not to travel to Israel, the Gaza Strip, or the West Bank, saying there is a highly unpredictable security risk in the region.
“Following recent developments in the region, there is a heightened risk of attacks on Israeli territory,” the April 12 travel advisory said. “The regional security situation remains highly volatile and could escalate without notice.”
Iran launched dozens of drones toward Israel on April 13 in retaliation for the death of senior officers in Iran’s embassy in Damascus, although Israel hasn’t taken responsibility for the incident.
Warplanes bombed Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 1, killing seven military advisers, including Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Israel should be punished for the act.
Other countries have also warned citizens not to travel to the region, including India, France, Poland, and Russia.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert on April 11, advising Americans in the area to be careful.
“The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness as security incidents often take place without warning,” the alert said. “The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events.”
Ottawa said the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas continues to make the area unsafe for Canadians.
“Israeli ground operations and air strikes are expected to continue throughout the Gaza Strip. Missiles and rockets continue to be fired from Gaza towards central and southern Israel,” the advisory says.
The current fighting in the area stems from an attack by Hamas terrorists in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in about 250 hostages being taken and 1,200 people killed, including eight Canadians.
Israel responded to the attack with military action in Gaza, which has been ongoing for about seven months.
“Tensions and violence are high in the West Bank,” Canada’s travel advisory says. “Frequent military operations throughout the West Bank can lead to casualties, including bystanders, and can result in clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians, as well as retaliatory attacks.”
Canadians in the area have been advised to take the following action:
- assess if you are currently in a safe location
- shelter in place if you can’t leave the area safely
- limit your movements
- remain extremely cautious
- monitor local and international media to get the latest information
- try to keep your phone charged
- follow the instructions of local authorities
“We urge all Canadians in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to sign up for the Government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service, so that we can provide them with direct, important updates as the situation evolves and for further information on assisted departures,” a government website said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Editor’s note: This article was updated on the afternoon of April 13.
