The United States State Department authorised the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their family members from its mission in Israel on February 27, citing safety risks in a significant escalation of Washington’s official posture toward the country.
The authorised departure order, which stops short of a mandatory evacuation, allows non-essential staff to leave while core diplomatic operations continue. The State Department warned that the embassy may further restrict or prohibit US government employees and their family members from travelling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem and the West Bank without advance notice.
The department maintained its existing travel advisory structure, urging citizens to reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest, while retaining a “do not travel” warning for Gaza and areas within 11.3 kilometres of the Gaza periphery.
Travel is also prohibited within four kilometres of the Lebanese and Syrian borders in northern Israel, and within 2.4 kilometres of the Egyptian border, with the exception of the Taba crossing.
The State Department said terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and violent extremists continue plotting attacks across Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, with targets including tourist sites, transport hubs, markets and government facilities. It warned that the security environment “can change quickly” and that increased regional tensions may prompt airlines to cancel or curtail flights.
US citizens currently in Israel were advised to consider leaving while commercial flights remain available.
The move comes against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions following rounds of US-Iran nuclear talks in Geneva and ongoing military activity across the broader Middle East.