Avoid all non-essential, unnecessary travel within Israel: Indian Embassy
Jerusalem, June 8
India on Monday issued a fresh travel advisory for Israel amid the ongoing developments in the region, urging Indian nationals to avoid non-essential travel inside Israel and exercise utmost caution.
"In view of the prevailing security situation in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to exercise utmost caution and remain vigilant at all times," the Indian Embassy posted on X.
"Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential and unnecessary travel within Israel until further notice," it added.
The Embassy strongly advised Indian nationals to strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and instructions issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command.
It also urged the Indian nationals to remain in close proximity to designated shelters and familiarise themselves with the nearest protected spaces in their area of residence or work.
The advisory comes as tensions continue to escalate in the West Asia region following renewed missile exchanges between Iran and Israel.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its aerospace forces on Monday morning targeted two "important and strategic" Israeli air bases in retaliation for Israel's attacks earlier in the day against the Gulf country.
In a statement on its official news outlet, Sepah News, the IRGC said that it struck Israel's Nevatim and Tel Nof airbases in response to Israel's missile strikes on a number of radar sites in three Iranian locations.
All its combat and operational units are fully ready to carry out operations on all fronts, the IRGC added.
Explosions were heard in Iran's capital, Tehran, and in two other provinces early Monday, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting the semi-official Fars news agency.
Yemen's Houthi group said on Monday that it had launched a barrage of missiles targeting what it described as sensitive Israeli sites in the Jaffa area and announced a complete ban on Israeli-linked maritime navigation in the Red Sea.
In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group's forces carried out a missile attack against targets in Jaffa, claiming the operation achieved its objectives.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a sensible step given the escalating tensions. But I wonder if the Indian embassy is also providing regular updates on safe corridors or evacuation plans if needed? The situation seems very volatile with Iran, Israel, and Houthis all involved.
As someone with relatives in Tel Aviv, this is concerning. The advisory is necessary but feels a bit late. Why not issue such warnings earlier when the Iran-Israel tensions first escalated? Hope our embassy strengthens its support system there.
India needs to be more proactive in such conflict zones. I appreciate the advisory, but our citizens also need helpline numbers, emergency contact points, and maybe a WhatsApp group for real-time updates. Stay safe, everyone! ❤️🇮🇳
Good advisory, but it's sad that the government only acts when things blow up. Why not have a permanent contingency plan for Indian nationals in volatile regions like West Asia? This is reactive, not proactive. Still, chalo, better late than never.
The entire situation in West Asia is becoming a tinderbox. India's diplomatic balancing act is commendable, but at the end of the day, our citizens' safety should come first. I hope all Indians in Israel, whether students or workers, are fine. 🙏
S Siddharth J