The Auswärtiges Amt updated its travel guidance for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza on 21 July 2026, advising against all trips to the Gaza Strip and West Bank (except East Jerusalem) and discouraging non-essential travel to northern Israel. The ministry notes Israel remains formally in a state of war and that flight disruptions are possible at Ben-Gurion Airport if hostilities intensify. Despite an April truce with Hezbollah and ongoing indirect talks with Iran, rocket exchanges across the Lebanese border have continued. Berlin also flags a heightened risk of lone-actor attacks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv following the stabbing of three tourists near Jaffa Gate on 19 July. For corporates, the advisory translates into tighter limitations on insurance coverage and an urgent need to review crisis-response playbooks. German project teams in Israel’s hi-tech corridor have been told to identify secure shelters and adhere to Home Front Command alerts. Mobility professionals should pre-clear alternative routings through Amman or Larnaca for emergency evacuations. The Foreign Office also reminds travellers that since 2025 the Israeli Population Authority records biometric data on entry and that exit permits for Gaza can be revoked at short notice. Humanitarian organisations must now submit staff lists to COGAT 72 hours in advance. While business ties between Germany and Israel remain robust—bilateral trade hit €8.9 billion in 2025—the latest advisory underscores the fragility of travel plans in the region. Companies are urged to apply the ‘essential-only’ principle for trips and to maintain remote workflows whenever feasible.
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
