Israel warns its citizens against travel to Arab nations as global anti-Israel protests continue

Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) on Saturday warned Israelis against traveling to Egypt, Jordan and Morocco due to the threat of being targeted by anti-Israel protesters as a result of the current war, Operation Iron Swords, between Israel and Hamas which began on Oct. 7 with the terror group's barrages of missiles and the invasion and brutal assault upon Israelis and foreign citizens.

“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 National Security Council said in a statement, adding that hostility, violence and anti-Jewish rhetoric has been increasing around the world.

The NSC also raised the travel alert level for Egypt, including Sinai, and Jordan to high, and recommended avoiding all non-essential travel to Abraham Accords partners, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. In addition, the NSC recommended that Israelis avoid traveling to Turkey, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Indonesia and even the Maldives.

Angry mobs have been descending on Israeli embassies and consulates across Muslim nations since the war began. Last week in Istanbul, a mob was prevented from storming the Israeli consulate with rioters, who were using sticks and rocks. In Jordan, thousands of demonstrators protested outside of the Israeli embassy in Amman. In Morocco, protesters chanted “free Palestine” while expressing their opposition to the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreement between Morocco and Israel signed in 2020. 

Western European countries have also been the scene of large anti-Israeli and pro-Hamas protesters chanting “Free Palestine” and shouting “Allahu Akbar.” On Saturday, an angry crowd of Hamas supporters in London attempted to access the Israeli embassy but was stopped by the police.

Hizb-Ut Tahrir, a jihadist group that advocates for the destruction of Israel and aims to establish a global Muslim caliphate, held demonstrations in front of the embassies of several Muslim countries in London, including the Turkish embassy, crying for Muslims to mobilize their armies in jihad against Israel.

David Collier, a prominent pro-Israel activist asked on X, formerly Twitter, how such a protest was legal in England.

“Now at the Hizb Ut-Tahrir demonstration. Calling for Muslim armies to rise up and liberate Palestine (destroy Israel). Sorry but how on earth is a demo for Muslim armies to wipe out Jews possibly allowed in the UK??” he wrote.

Also in London, Muslim protesters called for jihad against all “infidels."

Noor Dahri, a British-Muslim counterterrorism researcher and a former officer with the London Police, called on British authorities to get involved.  

“I completely understand that this is not a ISIS flag. End of story. What about the hateful slogans? Let me translate them: “Dawlat al-Islam” (the Islamic State) “Lanaat Allah ala al-Kufar” (May Allah curses be on infidels) “Lannat Allah ala al-Yahood” (May Allah curses be upon the Jews) Are they going to be arrested?” he asked on X, adding: “As Home Secretary Suella Braverman has assured us all clearly that no hateful slogan or any chant against Jews or in support of terrorism will be tolerated in the streets of Britain. What’s your official policy on these hateful chants Mr Mayor?”

In France on Saturday, the streets were filled with chants of “Allahu Akbar,” even though the French authorities have prohibited pro-Hamas protests in France.

Similar scenes played out in other European cities. In Barcelona, Spain, a crowd reportedly descended upon a Jewish-owned hotel with shouts of “Boycott Israel!”