National Security Council warns of terror organizations’ sharp motivation to target Israelis and Jews abroad

Israel's National Security Council has issued a fresh set of travel and safety recommendations as the country enters the holiday season, citing an expanding global threat picture. The warning comes amid intensifying incitement campaigns and terrorist ambitions tied to the ongoing conflict with Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas.

The National Security Council said the ongoing conflict with Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other factors has expanded the risk facing Israelis worldwide, warning that incitement campaigns tied to the fighting have sharply increased terrorist elements' motivation to attack Israeli and Jewish targets. The council said Hezbollah, driven by the severe losses it suffered in the war against Israel and a desire for revenge over the deaths of senior members, remains a significant potential threat.

Hamas and other Palestinian elements are investing heavily in building terrorist infrastructure on European soil and elsewhere to carry out revenge or "show" attacks against Jews and Israelis, alongside ongoing efforts to build power in Gaza and carry out attacks in Judea and Samaria and inside Israel, the council said.

Other terrorist organizations like ISIS and al-Qaeda continue to spread explicit calls to harm Jews, a threat particularly prominent in Africa and Asia but still present in European capitals and the US through lone attackers or local initiatives. The Houthis were also cited as calling for harm to Israelis in Somaliland and other African arenas, driven by their view of Israel's presence on the continent as a threat.

The NSC noted a significant rise in lone terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide.

Focus areas outlined as a current threat:

Countries surrounding Iran, including Azerbaijan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, remain exposed to terrorist activity from Iranian infrastructure due to geographic proximity.

Jordan, Qatar, Somaliland, and Egypt, including the Sinai Peninsula, carry a Level 4 travel warning, with the council urging travelers to avoid these countries entirely. Stopovers in Level 4 countries should also be avoided, and travelers are barred from leaving the terminal during layovers there.

Iraq, including the Kurdistan region, along with Yemen, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, are legally off-limits to Israeli citizens, including dual nationals, under the law prohibiting infiltration.

The council also listed Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Libya, and Algeria as high-risk countries with restricted entry that should be avoided.