In an updated travel advisory, Global Affairs Canada is urging Canadians to avoid all travel to Israel as the Middle Eastern conflict escalates.
The diplomatic agency issued the travel advisory on Saturday, citing “the ongoing regional armed conflict and the unpredictable security situation.” Formerly, the foreign service only advised against non-essential travel.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have increased rapidly following the killing of Fuad Shukr, a Hezbollah commander during an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon last month.
Hezbollah is a military group allied with Hamas, and both are backed by Iran’s Islamist regime.
Israel alleges that Shukr was responsible for a rocket strike three days earlier on July 27 that killed 12 young people on a soccer field in the Golan Heights, an Israeli-occupied area.
However, Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the incident.
Ismail Haniyeh, a prominent political leader of Hamas, was also killed in Tehran, Iran’s capital only hours before Shurk in a separate targeted airstrike.
While Iran has blamed Israel for the assassination, Israel has refused to comment on the situation.
However, in the wake of the Oct. 7 attack Israel had previously stated that it would target Hamas leaders regardless of their location.
“The security situation can deteriorate further without warning,” said Global Affairs Canada.
“If the armed conflict intensifies, it could impact your ability to depart by commercial means. It may result in travel disruptions, including airspace closures and flight cancellations and diversions.”
The department previously warned Canadians to avoid travelling to Lebanon for the same reasons last fall.
“You should not rely on the Government of Canada for an assisted departure or evacuation,” it said.
Israel and Hezbollah began exchanging fire along the border after the Oct. 7 attack, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in about 250 hostages being taken from Israel into Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Hezbollah has vowed to continue launching rockets into Israel until the IDF ceases its operations in Gaza.
“In the event of an evacuation, Government of Canada assisted departures would only be available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as well as their accompanying spouse and dependent children,” explained the travel advisory.
“All travellers would require valid travel documents for their assisted departure. The required onward travel to Canada from a safe third location would be at your own expense.”
Global Affairs Canada recommends that Canadians keep all travel documents and their childrens’ “up to date and secure at all times.”
