The Canadian government is cautioning against travel to Israel, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank due to a significant security risk in the region.
Israel has been anticipating potential retaliation from Iran after the death of a senior Iranian officer in Damascus, although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the incident.
Suspected Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 1, resulting in the deaths of seven military advisors, including Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, condemned the attack and called for Israel to face consequences.
Several other countries, including India, France, Poland, and Russia, have also advised their citizens against traveling to the region.
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“The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem advises U.S. citizens to maintain vigilance and heightened personal security awareness as security incidents can occur suddenly,” the alert emphasized. “The security landscape remains complex and can shift rapidly based on political developments and recent occurrences.”
Ottawa highlighted that the persistent conflict between Israel and Hamas poses a continued threat to the safety of Canadians in the area.
“Israeli military operations and airstrikes are anticipated to persist across the Gaza Strip. Gaza continues to experience missile attacks on central and southern Israel,” the advisory warned.
The ongoing violence in the region originated from a Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 250 hostages and 1,200 fatalities, including eight Canadian individuals.
In response to the attack, Israel launched military actions in Gaza, which have been ongoing for around seven months.
“Tensions and conflicts remain high in the West Bank,” the Canadian travel advisory stated. “Frequent military operations throughout the region can lead to casualties, including civilians, and may result in confrontations between Israeli security forces and Palestinians, as well as retaliatory assaults.”
- Assess your current safety status
- Stay indoors if leaving the area is unsafe
- Limit your movements
- Exercise extreme caution
- Stay informed through local and international media for updates
- Ensure your phone is charged
- Follow directives from local authorities
Ottawa also encourages citizens to register with the government for crucial notifications, including information on departures from the region.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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