Iran & Hamas plan to target Israeli tourists and Jews over Passover, Israeli Security Council warns

The Israeli National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday issued a warning ahead of the upcoming Jewish Passover holiday cautioning that the Iranian regime, its terror proxy Hamas and jihadist organizations like the Islamic State may attempt to target Israeli tourists and Jews worldwide. The Passover holiday, which begins on April 12 this year, is a popular time for Israelis to travel abroad. 

“The climate of hate against Israelis and Jews due to the ongoing war continues to fuel terrorist efforts, both from organized cells and individual attackers,” the NSC stated.

The council framed the global terrorist threats against Israelis and Diaspora Jews within the broader context of rising tensions in the volatile Middle East. It specifically mentioned the “deteriorating situation in Gaza and the resumption of fighting” between the IDF and the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.

Last month, Israel resumed the fighting against Hamas after its leaders refused to release the remaining 59 living and deceased Israeli hostages. 

On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israeli military would expand its operations in Gaza. 

“'Operation Strength and Sword’ in Gaza is expanding to crush, clear the area of terrorists and terror infrastructure, and to seize large territories that will be incorporated into Israel’s security zones,” Katz stated.

In its warning, the NSC emphasized that the Iranian regime continues to be the leading sponsor of state terrorism in the world, stating, “Iranian terror operatives have continued attempts to lure Israeli citizens – both domestically and abroad – through deceptive business offers or impersonation, aiming to harm or abduct them.”

The Iranian regime and its proxies have been severely weakened after 18 months of war against the Jewish state. As their capabilities deteriorate in the Middle East, Iran and its proxies are increasingly motivated to hit Israeli tourists and Jews abroad who are perceived as softer and easier targets than direct attacks on the Jewish state. 

However, the motivation to attack Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide is a common occurrence. In November 2023, just one month after the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre, the NSC cautioned Israeli tourists against non-essential travel abroad due to the rising levels of antisemitism.

“In recent weeks, against the backdrop of the Swords of Iron conflict, the National Security Council and the Foreign Ministry have witnessed a significant rise in incidents of antisemitism and incitement, alongside life-threatening attacks against Israelis and Jews around the world,” the council warned. 

In December 2023, authorities in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands arrested individuals suspected of being members of Hamas-affiliated cells operating in Europe.

In October 2024, a European report warned that Iran has been increasingly employing local European-based criminal gangs to attack Israelis, Jews and Iranian dissidents living in Europe. 

Sweden, which has a large and growing Muslim immigrant population, has increasingly been identified as a key area of interest for Iranian-linked terrorist and criminal recruitment efforts.

Swedish Secret Police Säpo warned that the Iranian regime has been targeting its critics abroad.

“Iran has previously used violence in other countries in Europe with the aim of silencing critical voices and perceived threats to its own regime,” Säpo warned. “To carry out these security-threatening activities, the Iranian regime has on occasion made use of criminal networks.״