Because of the war in the country, the Foreign Office has issued a travel warning for Israel, the Palestinian territories and Lebanon. A further escalation of the conflict cannot be ruled out.
The Foreign Office (AA) has issued a travel warning for Israel. The country is “formally in a state of war,” it said on the AA’s website, and the situation is highly volatile. A further intensification and expansion of the conflict cannot be ruled out. The travel warning also applies to the entire Palestinian territories and Lebanon, a spokesman said.
Until now, travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories has been “strongly discouraged”. There has been a travel warning for the Gaza Strip and some areas in Lebanon for some time.
No call to leave
According to a ministry spokesman, the current travel warnings are not associated with a call to leave the country. Nevertheless, all German citizens should register on site in the “Elefand” crisis preparedness list, where information is also provided about options for leaving the country.
The Federal Foreign Office will support those German citizens and their families who are already in Israel or the Palestinian territories and want to leave to the best of their ability. If the situation deteriorates, the Bundeswehr is also ready for a military evacuation operation. The crisis support teams already deployed to the region would be strengthened.
A travel warning makes it easier for tourists to cancel trips they have already booked free of charge, but does not mean a travel ban. However, cancellation can be more complicated for individually booked flights or accommodation abroad. There are currently travel warnings for a total of 16 countries, including Ukraine, Syria and Afghanistan, as well as partial travel warnings for several other countries such as Russia and Egypt.
Travel warning or travel advisory
Travel warning: The travel warning is the highest warning level from the Foreign Office. They are issued when it must be assumed that every traveler is threatened with a concrete danger to life and limb. If necessary, a warning is only issued against traveling to certain regions of a country (partial travel warning). Germans living in this country or region may be asked to leave the country. In the event of a travel warning, holidaymakers can usually cancel their package holiday free of charge. This applies to bookings under German law. However, for bookings with a foreign provider, the law of the local country may apply. Cancellation is more difficult for individual travelers.
Travel advice: The Federal Foreign Office’s travel advice contains information on the special features of a country that are currently relevant for travelers, entry requirements into foreign countries, customs regulations and criminal law regulations and medical advice – which was of particular importance during the corona pandemic, for example. With its travel advice, the Federal Foreign Office wants to enable travelers to make an informed decision. Depending on the assessment of the security situation, the information may contain the recommendation to restrict travel or to avoid it. Holidaymakers are generally not entitled to free cancellation.
Safety notice: Wherever it appears necessary, it draws attention to country-specific and cross-border risks for travelers and Germans abroad. The safety instructions are regularly checked and updated. Depending on the assessment of the security situation, they may contain the recommendation to restrict or forego travel.
Flights from Lufthansa and Bundeswehr
Numerous German citizens have already left Israel because of the war. At the request of the Foreign Office, Lufthansa operated four special flights from Tel Aviv to Germany on Thursday and Friday. In total, around 3,000 Germans were supported to leave the country by land, air and sea. Two Bundeswehr planes took a total of 80 Germans with them on their return flight from Tel Aviv on Sunday morning. At least one more Bundeswehr plane with 82 passengers on board from Tel Aviv is scheduled to land in Berlin today.
There are said to be two Condor airline flights from Israel to Germany today.
Ground offensive expected
After the attack by the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas a week ago, a major ground offensive by the Israeli army is imminent. The preparations were about to be completed, it was said on Saturday evening. Observers expect fierce fighting with many deaths and a large movement of refugees.