The UK Foreign Office has advised British travelers on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. continues to intensify.
Warnings from the British Government It comes after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday.
Air raid sirens have sounded across Israel, and the military says more than 4,500 rockets have been fired since the weekend.
But what exactly should British travelers do in Israel and Lebanon? Keep reading below for everything you need to know about the latest travel advice.
Smoke rises following Israeli attacks on Gaza as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Palestinian attacks amount to a “war” on Saturday.
A map on the Foreign Office website shows which areas of Israel British travelers should avoid.
Is it safe to travel to Israel?
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued a warning against all but essential travel to Israel and the West Bank.
It said: ‘In Israel and the West Bank, there is a risk of violent incidents, including stabbings, shootings, arson, vehicle ramming and stone-throwing attacks on people and vehicles.
‘These incidents have involved protesters (both Israeli and Palestinian), Israeli security forces and civilians (including Israeli settlers). There is a risk of tourists or passers-by getting caught up in any of these types of incidents.’
Further advice on their website says that if you are in an area affected by fighting, you should follow the instructions of the Israeli Home Front Command.
This can be done by visiting the Israel Home Front Command website (available only in Israel) or by calling 104 if you are in the country.
What should I do if my flight to Israel has been cancelled?
If your flight is canceled, you have several different options.
You are legally entitled to a full refund, which includes other airline flights that you will not use on the same booking, such as round trips.
You also have the right to a replacement flight to reach your destination.
If your canceled flight delays you by two hours or more, you have a legal right to help with the costs.
If the replacement trip you were offered has been delayed by two hours or more and you were given less than two weeks’ notice, you are legally entitled to compensation.
What regions should you avoid in Israel?
As well as warning against all but essential travel to the West Bank and Israel, the Foreign Office is warning Britons against all travel to Gaza, Shebaa Farms and Ghajjar, 500 meters from the Lebanese border ( the “Blue Line”) east of Métula.
This includes the northern edge of the city and within 500 m of the Syrian border (the ‘Alpha Line’), southwest of Ashkelon, the area south of Route 35 and west of Route 40 to Tlalim, not including Be’er Sheva. , the area west of Be’er Sheva, and the area north of Route 211.
Which airlines continue to fly to Israel?
EasyJet
easyJet’s advice to customers states: “Due to the evolving situation in Israel, we have paused our flight operations to and from Tel Aviv until 13 October.”
EasyJet has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv until Friday.
The airline said: “Due to the evolving situation in Israel, we have paused our flight operations to and from Tel Aviv until October 13.
‘Customers who must travel to and from Tel Aviv on these dates will be contacted by email and SMS with the details provided at the time of booking and check-in.
‘Any easyJet dedicated flights customer whose flights have been canceled will be able to request a voucher for the full value of their flight, a refund or transfer their flights free of charge for future travel.
‘If you are an easyJet Holidays customer and are due to travel by 21 October, we offer you the option to change your destination with no change fee or cancel your holiday and receive the full cost of the holiday as an EasyJet Holidays credit, to book a holiday alternatives at a later date.’
Ryanair
A statement from Ryanair regarding flight cancellations to and from Tel Aviv Airport states: “Regrettably we have been forced to cancel flights to/from Tel Aviv Airport between Monday 9 and Wednesday 11 October due to operational restrictions outside of Ryanair control.
“Affected passengers will be notified of their options to change flights or receive a full refund via email/SMS.”
Ryanair said it apologizes for these unavoidable cancellations and advises customers to check their app for updates.
British Airways
British Airways has published advice for customers traveling with the airline, which reads: “If you are due to travel with us to or from Tel Aviv on a flight up to and including 22 October 2023 but no longer wish to travel, you can change your dates ‘free travel’
A statement from British Airways said: “We are closely monitoring the situation in Israel and our flights currently continue to operate.”
“If you are due to travel with us to or from Tel Aviv on a flight up to and including October 22, 2023, but no longer wish to travel, you can change your travel dates free of charge.”
It continues: ‘Please contact our team on 0800 727 800, or if calling from outside the UK, please call +44 203 2500145. If you have booked with a travel agent or third party, please contact them directly.
“We will keep this situation under review and update this page if anything changes.”
Virgin Atlantic
The airline’s advice says: ‘Due to the current situation in Israel, some of our flights to and from Tel Aviv may be delayed or cancelled. We advise anyone who has booked travel to check the status of their flight on the website before traveling to the airport.’
Fresh air
WizzAir said all flights to Tel Aviv between Monday and today had been cancelled. Affected passengers will be notified by SMS or email.
A statement on its website adds: “Further updates on flights to/from Israel after October 10 will be published in due course. If you are traveling on flights from Israel in the coming days, proactively check your flight information for the latest updates on your departure.
Can I get a refund for my canceled vacation to Israel?
Customers who have booked to travel to Israel and are due to travel there imminently can cancel free of charge and receive a full refund based on advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This also applies to British Airways Holidays and easyJet Holidays customers.
However, your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.
