US advisory says to reconsider travel to Israel due to violence, Covid

Palestinian demonstrators evacuate a wounded man during clashes with Israeli forces near the Jewish settlement of Beit El near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on May 14, 2021. – Israel faced a widening conflict, as deadly violence escalated across the West Bank amid a massive aerial bombardment in Gaza and unprecedented unrest among Arabs and Jews inside the country. The West Bank clashes, described as among the most intense since the second intifada that began in 2000, left seven people dead from Israeli fire, the Palestinian health ministry said, as the death toll from strikes in Gaza rose to 122. (Photo by ABBAS MOMANI / AFP)

 

(Eagle News) — The U.S. Department of State advised people to reconsider travel to Israel due to armed conflict and civil unrest.

The travel advisory came as Israel pounded Gaza and deployed extra troops to the border Thursday as Palestinians fired barrages of rockets back, with the death toll in the enclave on the fourth day of conflict climbing to over 100.

“Rockets continue to impact the Gaza periphery and areas across Southern and Central Israel, including Jerusalem,” the advisory stated.

It further warned of a marked increase in protest and violence throughout the middle east nation and warned of sudden vandalism, rock throwing, burning of vehicles, and attacks on passerby.

The advisory said “the security environment within Gaza and on its borders is dangerous and volatile. Sporadic mortar and rocket fire and corresponding Israeli military responses continue to occur.”

Terrorist groups and lone-wolf terrorist continue to plot attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, shopping areas, and government facilities.

Aside from the threat of violence, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Israel due to COVID-19, indicating a moderate level of COVID-19 in the country.

The Travel Health Notice was higher for the West Bank and Gaza with the CDC issuing a Level 4 for those regions, indicating a very high level of Covid-19.

(Eagle News Service)