by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 10:35 AM ET, Mon March 9, 2026
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has provided a new update on Monday, March 9 for travelers stranded in Israel.
The new alert encourages stranded travelers to fill out the State Department’s Crisis Intake Form and to consider several options of leaving Israel.
Ben Gurion Airport is offering limited commercial flights by El Al, Israir, Arkia and Air Haifa, as well as limited assistance flights by the State Department.
There are also overland routes to Egypt, where commercial flights are operating in Taba. Travelers can visit Arkia and TUS online to learn about the flights and the crossing, which is currently operating 24 hours a day.
The U.S. Embassy Jerusalem is offering bus service to Taba. Travelers interested can contact the Embassy and fill out an online form, which will then lead to a reservation, departure time and rally point.
Travelers heading to Egypt through Taba should carry at least US$85 on their person and must obtain a 30-day visit on arrival for US$30. All travelers must also pay US$20 for a letter of guarantee required by local authorities and US$35 for a Taba border exit fee.
All U.S. citizens should consult the Israel Home Front Command guidance ahead of traveling to a border crossing.
All Americans are also encouraged to shelter in place in Israel, to remain in a residence or hotel, and to stay away from windows. Travelers should also download the Home Front Command Red Alert app on their phones to be notified of rockets and missile attacks.
“On February 27, 2026, the Department of State Authorized non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Israel,” said the Embassy alert. “If safe to do so, American citizens are encouraged to depart using commercial or publicly available means.”
Israel is currently under a Level 3 travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State, warning travelers to reconsider traveling to the country, which carried out a joint attack on Iran on February 28 with the United States, sparking this new war and stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia’s travel advisory has also been updated with new warnings, and the Embassy there is urging travelers to shelter in place as they await for government-assisted flights.
The government has not given an estimate of how many travelers have been stranded within Israel or the wider Middle East, but it is expected to be within the hundreds of thousands. At least 27,000 Americans have made their way home since last weekend’s beginning of the war.
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