The United States issued a travel alert on Wednesday recommending its citizens not to travel under any circumstances to the Gaza Strip due to the new war and asking them to reconsider trips of Israel and the occupied West Bank.
At least 22 US citizens were killed in a bloody surprise attack by Hamas in Israel, while the number of US nationals kidnapped by the Palestinian Islamist group is yet to be determined.
The State Department urged Americans to be on alert to avoid the Gaza Strip because of “terrorism, civil unrest and armed conflict.”
The United States cannot provide consular services in Gaza because its personnel are prohibited from entering the strip, which is controlled by Hamas, a group classified by Washington as a terrorist organization, the note recalled.
“The launch of the rocket and the corresponding response of the Israeli military can happen at any time. During the armed clashes, the crossing of Gaza with Israel and Egypt will be closed,” he added.
In addition, he called for a reconsideration of visits to Israel and the occupied West Bank due to “terrorism and civil unrest.”
The State Department has warned that its diplomatic and consular staff will limit their movements in the territories to emergency trips and that the situation may be tightened further if there are new “security threats.”
The surprise attack by Hamas, which began on Saturday a battle that continues to see heavy exchanges of fire, has already left at least 1,200 dead in Israel and more than 2,900 wounded. On the Gaza side, the Palestinian Ministry of Health registered 950 dead and at least 5,000 wounded.
