MFA issues travel advice for Israel and Palestine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a Travel Advice notice, warning members of the public to avoid all non-essential travel to Israel, Gaza as well as the Nablus and Jenin region of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

At the same time, the Ministry, through the activated National Crisis Management Centre, is providing continuous telephone support to Cypriot citizens in the country without any particular problems being reported so far.

As stated in the travel advice, Cypriot citizens are advised to stay cautious, follow developments and information in the international and local media closely, and follow official information and instructions.

Cypriot citizens are also advised to remain alert, and to register (if they so wish), to the online registration platform for Cypriots abroad Connect2CY (https://www.connect2cy.gov.cy/).

It is noted that in the event of an emergency, Cypriot citizens are requested to contact the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Tel Aviv, Israel, 61, Dizengoff street, Top Tower 14th floor, Tel Aviv 6433233, Israel, Tel. (+) 972 3 927 3007, +972 3 927 3008 (Consular Dept.) – (09:00-15:00, Monday–Friday), mobile No. (outside working hours): +972 54 8608603 and +972 54 7624122, Fax: +972 3 629 0535, email: ~consular@cytelaviv.org.

Cypriot citizens may also contact the Office of the Representative of the Republic of Cyprus in Ramallah at V.I.P. Centre, 100 Al Kawathar Street, Al Bireh Ramallah, West Bank - Palestinian National Authority, tel: +972 2241 3206 (08:30-15:00, Monday–Friday), mobile No. (outside working hours): +972 2 2413236, fax: +972 2241 3208, e-mail: ~Cyprusofficeramallah@mfa.gov.cy.

They can also call the Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Consular Affairs Directorate on telephone: +357 22 651113 (08:30-15:00, Monday-Friday) and the Crisis Management Department on telephone: +357 22 801000 (08:30-15:00, Monday-Friday) and mobile phone (outside working hours): +357 97 775998.

In addition, according to a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it has been closely following the development of the security situation in Israel from the very beginning.

It is noted that the National Crisis Management Centre was immediately activated and provided continuous telephone support, in coordination with the Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Office of the Representative in Ramallah, to Cypriot citizens in the country or citizens who had a planned transit from Cyprus to Israel and wished to be informed of the current situation.

No particular problems have been reported, especially with regard to the safety of Cypriot citizens, and contact with those who wish to do so is continuing, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

It is also noted that since commercial flights are continuing, until this moment, Cypriot citizens who wish to do so are encouraged to proceed with their own arrangements to return to Cyprus.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to monitor the development of the situation in the country and to provide information to the public, who are urged to follow the instructions of the local authorities, and to monitor the international and local media, the press release concludes.