The United States authorized nonemergency government employees to leave Israel amid heightened risks posed by Iran.
“On February 27, 2026, the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks,” the embassy said in a statement.
“In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available.”
The notice encouraged Americans to reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism threats and civil unrest. It further declared that Americans should not travel to Gaza due to terrorism and armed conflict, North Israel due to military activity, and the Egyptian border except for the Taba crossing.
The embassy noted that terrorist groups and individual terrorists “continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.”
“Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities,” it said. “The security environment is complex and can change quickly, and violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning. Increased regional tensions can cause airlines to cancel and/or curtail flights into and out of Israel.”
Earlier this week, the U.S. ordered a partial evacuation of its embassy in Beirut amid ongoing regional tensions.
