With the spring holidays and summer travel season approaching, Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) has issued a comprehensive travel advisory, warning of growing global threats to Israeli and Jewish citizens abroad. The updated threat assessment underscores increased terror activity by Iran and its proxies, Hamas, and radical Islamist groups including ISIS, Al-Qaida, and Al-Shabab.
The NSC’s latest travel alert, released Tuesday, is part of an annual pre-holiday effort to raise public awareness and promote vigilance among Israelis planning to travel overseas.
The advisory consolidates data from intelligence and security agencies, and identifies key global hotspots and emerging threats.
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According to the NSC:
- Iran remains the leading driver of global terrorism, orchestrating plots through the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hezbollah, and Hamas. The regime reportedly seeks revenge for the deaths of senior operatives during the ongoing Swords of Iron war.
- Multiple Iranian terror plots were thwarted in the past year, including attempts to attack Israeli embassies in Sweden and Belgium, as well as efforts to lure Israelis abroad under false pretenses via fraudulent emails and social media contacts, in order to harm or abduct them.
- Hamas, weakened in Gaza, is attempting to strike Israeli and Jewish targets overseas. Terror infrastructure tied to the group was uncovered in Denmark, Germany, Bulgaria, and Sweden, according to the NSC.
In addition to state-sponsored threats, Islamist terror groups like ISIS and Al-Qaida have increased activity—especially in Europe—amid renewed fighting in Gaza and the collapse of a recent ceasefire.
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The advisory highlights several recent attacks and foiled plots:
- A New Year’s Eve attack in New Orleans carried out by a Da’esh (ISIS)-inspired terrorist killed 14 and wounded 57 in a vehicle-ramming incident.
- Vehicular and stabbing attacks were recorded in Germany and Austria, while multiple plots were disrupted in Sweden, Germany, and Türkiye.
- In Australia, incidents included the arson of a Jewish kindergarten and synagogue, along with a thwarted plot targeting Jewish sites.
- Canada saw several attacks in Montreal and Toronto, involving Molotov cocktails and shootings at synagogues and Jewish schools.
Specific Hotspots and High-Risk Areas
- The Sinai Peninsula remains a level-4 travel warning zone, indicating a high threat level and a strong recommendation against travel due to terror risks along its coastline.
- Africa, especially the Horn of Africa, Sahel region, and parts of Central Africa, continues to serve as a hub for jihadist networks.
- Threats also persist in parts of Asia, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the southern Philippines, Kashmir, and Indonesia.
Since the attacks on October 7, 2023, the NSC notes a marked rise in antisemitic violence worldwide, both in organized attacks and lone-wolf assaults. One particularly alarming incident was the mob assault on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in Amsterdam on November 7, 2024.
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The NSC also warns that ongoing tensions in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and along Israel’s borders may serve as further catalysts for retaliatory violence abroad.
“The various terrorist entities—Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Global Jihad factions—remain highly motivated to strike Israeli and Jewish targets abroad,” the NSC said. “The general rise in antisemitic sentiment and ongoing war conditions only heighten the danger.”
With Passover travel about to begin and global Jewish communities preparing for the holidays, Israeli officials stress that these warnings are not hypothetical—they are grounded in real intelligence and recent activity.
The NSC is urging Israeli citizens to:
- Consult travel alerts on the NSC’s website (nsc.gov.il) before booking trips.
- Remain alert to suspicious contacts online, particularly on social media and email, and avoid business interactions with unknown individuals.
- Follow all country-specific travel safety guidelines provided by the NSC.
- Report suspicious activity and contact the NSC’s 24/7 call center at +972-2-666-7444 with any concerns.
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