Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem – March 9, 2026 – Update 2
Event
The U.S. government cares about your safety and will continue to share up-to-the-minute information you need to make informed decisions about your safety. The U.S. government is ready to help Americans leave the Middle East if you choose to take advantage of the options available.
In addition to commercial departure options, please note that the Department is coordinating flights out of the region and can manifest Americans who have completed the crisis intake form as space is available. For your safety and in compliance with Government of Israel limitations on sizes of gatherings, please do not come to the airport unless you have purchased a ticket yourself or you have been contacted directly by the Department of State to inform you have been manifested on a flight.
Please complete this form so the Department of State can better assist you and provide you with timely updates: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake . If you have already completed the crisis intake form, please do not fill it out again. If you completed the form and have departed Israel and no longer need assistance please let us know by calling or responding to the email you received on registration, so we can focus our efforts on U.S. citizens still in need of assistance.
U.S. citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza can also call the State Department at +1-202-501-4444 to receive departure information and assistance.
If you choose to not take advantage of departure options available, Americans should be prepared to shelter in place in a secure location within your residence or another safe building. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.
Options to Depart
- Ben Gurion Airport is open for limited commercial flights. Americans should strongly consider departing on one of these flights if they believe it is safe to do so. Visit the airline websites (El Al , Israir , Arkia , Air Haifa ) to find information about flight availability and purchasing tickets. The Ministry of Transport has provided a form you may wish to complete for departure requests.
- The Department of State is organizing limited assistance flights from Ben Gurion Airport. American citizens who have registered through the link above will be contacted when seats become available. Please continue to monitor your email and phone for updates.
- There are also overland routes to Taba, Egypt, where commercial options to depart the region are operating. Americans should strongly consider departing on one of these overland routes if they believe it is safe to do so. Visit the Arkia and TUS websites to find information about flight availability and purchasing tickets, including shuttle service from Taba to Sharm El Sheikh International Airport . The land crossing to Egypt at Taba is operating and scheduled to be open 24 hours a day. U.S. Consular officers may present in Taba for limited assistance.
- U.S. Embassy Jerusalem is offering bus service to Taba for U.S. citizens in need of assistance departing Israel. If interested in assisted departure via bus, please fill out this online form . Once we have assigned you to a bus you will receive details about the time of departure and rally point. Departures are available from the Jerusalem area and the Tel Aviv area. If there is demand, we will schedule buses and contact you with details.
- U.S. Embassy Cairo recommends that all travelers have at least $85 USD (cash) per person to cross the Taba border. ATMs at the crossing are unreliable and quickly run out of cash.
- Travelers may obtain a 30-day visa on arrival at Taba for $30 USD (cash). This visa permits travelers to enter the Sinai Peninsula and to board flights departing from Sharm el-Sheikh, including those that transit through Cairo. Travelers may obtain a free entry stamp at the Taba border crossing. This stamp permits travel within South Sinai only and does not authorize onward travel to Cairo or other Egyptian governorates. Travelers wishing to travel beyond South Sinai must obtain the standard 30-day visa on arrival. All travelers must also pay $20 USD (cash) for a letter of guarantee required by the local authorities (issued by Bright Star Tours), and $35 USD (cash) for a Taba border exit fee.
- Before traveling to the border crossings, U.S. citizens should also consult the Israeli Airport Authority for status updates and Israel Home Front Command guidance .
- Follow the Department of State guidelines to protect yourself from scams . Be careful of anyone asking for money. If you are a victim of a scam, learn how the FBI can help .
Shelter in Place
- U.S. Embassy Jerusalem has issued a shelter in place notification for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. We recommend all Americans in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza do the same until further notice. To the extent possible, remain in your residence, hotel, or another structure, and stay away from windows.
Embassy and Embassy Branch Office Operations
- On February 27, 2026, the Department of State authorized non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Israel. If safe to do so, American citizens are encouraged to depart using commercial or publicly available means.
- The Embassy in Jerusalem and the Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv have suspended all routine consular services through March 13. Emergency passport services are available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., no appointment required. No cashier services will be available, all application fees must be paid in advance via pay.gov.
- U.S. citizens should complete this form so the Department of State can better assist you and provide you with timely updates: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake . If you have already completed the crisis intake form, please do not fill it out again.
Mortar and Rocket Fire or Hostile Aircraft Intrusion: In the event of mortar or rocket fire or Hostile Aircraft Intrusion, a “red alert” siren may be activated. Treat all such alerts as real. Follow the instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately. Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space. U.S. government personnel and their family members may be restricted from traveling to areas affected by rocket activity, sirens, and/or the opening of bomb shelters. For additional information on appropriate action to take upon hearing a siren or explosion, see the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command website (available on devices within Israel). U.S. citizens may also wish to download the free Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command application on Android or Apple devices to receive real-time security and safety alerts. Free commercial applications, such as Red Alert: Israel, are also available.
Actions to Take
- Learn the location of the nearest bomb shelter or other hardened shelter. Download the Home Front Command Red Alert application or similar apps for mobile devices (available on devices within Israel) to receive real time alerts for rocket and missile attacks and armed UAV intrusions.
- Maintain communication with family and friends to inform them of your status.
- Have travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
- Find a secure location within your residence or another safe building. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items.
- In case of an attack, stay away from any debris, and monitor news outlets for official guidance.
- Avoid protests and demonstrations, keep a low profile, and stay aware of your surroundings.
- Pay close attention to communications from local officials.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive safety and security updates from the U.S. Embassy.
- Keep your cell phone charged and pre-programmed with the following emergency numbers.
Assistance
- Israel police call 100, Israel ambulance call 101
- U.S. Embassy Jerusalem/Embassy Branch Office Tel Aviv: https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake . If you have already completed the crisis intake form, please do not fill it out again.
- U.S. Department of State: call 202-501-4444 from abroad or 888-407-4747 when calling from the U.S. and Canada.
