Israel tells citizens to reconsider travel abroad amid hostility

Israel urged its citizens on Friday to reconsider trips abroad and to exercise extra caution if already out of the country, citing an increase of hostility toward Jews and Israelis over the present conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

Life threatening assaults, antisemitism and incitement have been significantly rising in many countries, a joint statement from the prime minister’s office and the foreign ministry said, since Israel launched its campaign in Gaza.

On Monday, Israel issued a “highest level travel warning” for Russia’s Dagestan region after hundreds of Dagestanis, mostly young men, rampaged through the terminal building of an airport and on to the tarmac hunting for Jewish people who had just flown in on a flight from Tel Aviv.

Israel’s bombardment of Gaza from air ground and sea has sparked anti-Israel protests in Europe and the Middle East.

Gaza health authorities say at least 9,227 people have been killed since Israel started its offensive in retaliation for the Hamas rampage on Oct. 7 which killed 1,400 people in the deadliest day of Israel’s 75-year history.