Travelers Heading to Israel Face Challenges Amid Conflict
Jerusalem, Israel - Mar. 26, 2026 - In recent days, much of the focus – including at Chaim V’Chessed – has centered on foreign nationals stranded in Israel and urgently seeking a way out amid the ongoing conflict. With flight disruptions and uncertainty continuing, significant effort has gone into assisting those attempting to depart the country.
At the very same time, however, another group of travelers is facing challenges in the opposite direction – those trying to reach Israel.
This includes Israeli citizens currently abroad who are working to return home, but are encountering a dearth of flights to Israel. It also includes non-Israeli citizens who reside in Israel and are seeking to come back to their families. Additionally, there are foreign nationals who, despite the ongoing war, wish to travel to Israel for the upcoming Pesach holiday or for pressing family obligations.
Officially, Israel has not closed its borders to non-citizens. In practice, however, there have been numerous instances in which non-citizen travelers were prevented from boarding flights to Israel or faced significant questioning and scrutiny prior to departure.
Chaim V’Chessed sources report that foreigners who reside in Israel are generally being permitted to board flights without issue, provided they can show a valid visa and/or other proof of residency.
The situation is more complicated for tourists and other non-citizens without resident status in Israel. Chaim V’Chessed advises that tourists seeking to travel to Israel should come prepared with documentation demonstrating their connection to the country, specifically proof of close relatives in Israel. Travelers should bring along copies of those relatives’ teudot zehut. While such documentation is not always requested, bringing it along can help prevent unnecessary complications and is strongly recommended as a precaution.