Israel and Hamas have been locked in a bloody conflict (Picture: Jalaa Marey/AFP via Getty Images)
Violence has escalated between Israel and Hamas as a war has seen rockets shower Gaza and other atrocities.
Israeli forces vowed to turn the Gaza Strip into ‘rubble’ following a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7 and have launched retaliatory strikes in over 200 locations throughout Gaza, killing more than 700 people and injuring 4,000 more.
So far the conflict has claimed more than 1,700 lives on both sides, with over 187,500 people displaced from the Strip.
Follow our live blog for latest updates on the Israel-Hamas war.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has called up 300,000 army reservists and signalled a ground assault against the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas.
During a televised address, he vowed to crush Hamas and said Israel’s response would ‘reverberate with their enemies for generations’.
As the conflict continues, many will be wondering about the safety of surrounding countries and whether they can travel to them. Here’s what you need to know.
Is it safe to travel to Lebanon right now?
The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) has said tourists should avoid ‘all but essential travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.’
Travel to Israel has been advised against (Picture: Joseph Eid/AFP via Getty Images)
FCDO has additionally advised against travel to:
Gaza
the Sheba’a Farms and Ghajjar
within 500m of the border with Lebanon (the ‘Blue Line’) east of Metula, including the northern edge of the town and within 500m of the border with Syria (the ‘Alpha Line’)
the area close to the border with Gaza that includes:
Southwest of Ashkelon
South of route 35 and west of route 40 as far as Tlalim, not including Be’er Sheva
West of Be’er Sheva
North of route 211
As tensions escalate in the region, British authorities have issued a warning against travelling to Lebanon as violence between Israel and Hamas escalates.
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The British Foreign Office has urged Britons to avoid non-essential travel to the country.
Travel to the Hermel Area south of the country including the towns of Arsal, Ras Baalbek, Qaa, Laboue, and Nahle has also been advised against, as well as any Palestinian refugee camps within three miles of the border with Syria.
Is it safe to travel to Egypt right now?
The FCDO has advised against all, or all but essential, travel to some parts of Egypt.
These areas are advised against travelling to altogether:
Within 20km (12.4 miles) of the Egypt-Libya border, except for the town of El Salloum, where it advises against all but essential travel
North Sinai
The northern part of the Governorate of South Sinai, beyond the St Catherine-Nuweibaa road, except for the coastal areas along the west and east of the peninsula
The eastern part of Ismailiyah Governorate
Multiple areas in Egypt have been issued with travel warnings (Picture: Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images)
The following areas, all by essential travel ideas are advised against:
Luxor, Qina, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings;
The Governorate of Faiyum;
Coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh
Marsa Matruh-Siwa Road
Siwa
The Giza Governorate north-east of the Bahariya Oasis
The road between Giza and Farafra
Bahariya Oasis, Farafra, the White Desert and Black Desert.
Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now?
However, there is currently no advice that tourists should refrain from travelling to Turkey.
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President Recap Tayyip Erdogan spoke out against the conflict, saying both Israel and Hamas should ‘refrain from aggressive acts.’
‘We are determined to continue the diplomatic efforts we have started to re-establish calm by intensifying them. We call on all parties with a say in the region to sincerely contribute to peace,’ he added.
‘Lasting regional peace will only be possible by finding a final solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue. In this regard, as we have always underlined, the preservation of the two-state solution perspective is very important.’
Can I get a refund on my trip?
Unless the Foreign Office advises you to cancel your holiday, or it is cancelled by your airline or tour operator there is no guarantee you’ll get your money back if you choose not to travel.
It is advised to check in with your travel provider over the status of your trip (Picture: Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Most insurance policies only pay out due to trip cancellations in certain circumstances such as death, bereavement and extremely long days.
In light of the current circumstances, it is worth checking with your airline or tour provider to see whether they might be able to offer you anything, such as rescheduling the trip, or moving it to a different location.
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