Travel advice for Israel changed to completely red

A red travel advisory is being applied to Israel with immediate effect, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports. This means that Dutch people are advised not to travel there because it is too dangerous. The reason is the tension in the region. "The chance of an attack by Iran and Iran's allies on Israel is high," the website about the travel advisory states.

Dutch people in Israel are advised to leave the country if it is safe to do so. The Netherlands will not repatriate people, according to a ministry spokesperson. This "is indeed not an issue at the moment." He cannot say how many Dutch people are staying in Israel because people who travel to the country do not have to register.

The travel advice for Israel was already orange and partly red. Before the adjusted advice, the border areas between Israel and Gaza, Israel and Lebanon, and the Golan Heights were already red. Popular tourist destinations such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were also orange.

"There is an increased risk of rocket and drone attacks and terrorist attacks throughout Israel," the explanatory memorandum to the new advisory states. "The risk of an attack is high not only in the border areas between Israel and Gaza, Israel and Lebanon, and on the Golan Heights but also in other places in Israel."

The violence in the region between Lebanon, Iran, and Israel threatens to escalate further after an Israeli attack on a Hezbollah commander in Beirut and the assassination of a Hamas leader in Tehran.