US citizens advised to avoid Gaza

Under a new State Department advisory, All US citizens are advised to avoid travel to the Gaza Strip and, if already there, leave as soon as possible.

US government employees are not allowed to travel to Gaza; and, excepting Jericho, Bethlehem and Routes 1, 443 and 90, also prohibited from traveling on the West Bank. Travel outside those areas must be for official business and conducted under enhanced security. They must take extra security precautions when visiting refugee camps, West Bank universities and “seam areas” of potential Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

All other U.S. government travel into the West Bank outside the aforementioned areas must be for official business and conducted with enhanced security measures. They are prohibited from travel to Jerusalem’s Old city on Friday during the month of Ramadan.  When traveling to the following locations, employees must stay within 7 miles of Gaza, 1.5 miles of the Lebanon border and stay off Route 98 on the Golan.