Israel issued a travel warning for Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco on Saturday, over concerns that Israeli visitors could be targeted by emotionally charged individuals due the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, triggered by the latter’s surprise attack on Israeli forces and settlements near Gaza Strip on October 7.
The National Security Council in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Foreign Ministry updated its travel advisory for all Israelis in Egypt (including the Sinai Peninsula) and Jordan, and asked its citizens to leave as soon as possible.
For Morocco, the threat level was raised to a 3, and Israelis were told to avoid travel unless necessary.
“Given the ongoing war, we are witnessing a significant increase in anti-Israel protests in the past few days in countries around the world, and in particular, Arab countries in the Middle East,” the announcement said.
The NSC warned that unchecked hostility and violence is taking aim at Jewish and Israeli symbols. It also cautioned against visiting Turkey, citing a four-level travel warning.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has evacuated its ambassador in Rabat, David Govrin, and the embassy staff, and closed the Liaison Bureau due to pro-Palestine demonstrations sweeping over Morocco. The Israeli Ambassador in Cairo Amira Oron also left her post.
The evacuation is part of precautionary safety measures taken in Israeli embassies located in hot spots, especially in Arab and Muslim countries.
Two Israeli tourists and their Egyptian guide were killed recently by an Egyptian soldier in Alexandria, signaling that citizens unhappy with Israel’s Middle Eastern policies might take it out on Israeli tourists.
Tens of thousands of Moroccans poured into the streets of the capital Rabat for a march last Sunday, in support of Palestinians in Gaza whom are subjected to the Israeli retaliatory onslaught, after Hamas movement carried out its “Al Aqsa Flood” operation.