Frequently asked questions about the situation in Israel / Palestinian Territories

On 7 October, Hamas staged attacks in Israel from Gaza. In addition to regular rocket attacks, Hamas and the Israeli army are now engaged in fighting in and around Gaza. This has major consequences for the security situation of the residents in Gaza. There may be demonstrations in the West Bank and violence between different population groups may occur. There is a chance of further escalation of the conflict.

Are you in the Palestinian Territories? The security situation is unstable. If you have not yet done so, we urge you to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Service as soon as possible. We can then contact you if necessary. Also please read the Palestinian Territories travel advice (information in Dutch) for more information. 

Are you in Israel? Consider whether your stay is necessary. The security situation in Israel is unpredictable and can change quickly. Please note that the options for leaving the country (by plane, land, sea) may decrease at any time. Please read the Israel travel advice (information in Dutch) and read what this means for you.

On 7 October, Dutch citizens in Gaza were caught off guard by the deteriorating security situation and the impossibility of leaving Gaza. The Netherlands is actively working to ensure that all Dutch nationals can cross the Rafah border into Egypt as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring developments on the ground and is in almost daily contact with Dutch nationals (and their core families) and persons with valid residence in the Netherlands. As soon as the border crossing opens for them, we will let them or their contacts know immediately.

People who crossed the border are received in Egypt and supported by a team from the Dutch embassy and the Ministry of Defense. They will receive medical assistance and psychological support as needed. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense also ensure transit to the Netherlands. For security reasons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not share further information at present.

We hope everyone is in a safe location and advise everyone to follow local news closely and follow the instructions of the local authorities.

Please register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Service if you have not already done so. That will enable us to contact you if necessary.

Ben Gurion Airport is open. The choice to stay or leave is your own responsibility. Consider your options carefully. 

If you are in Israel on an organised trip, stay in contact with your tour operator. If you need help, contact your travel insurance company or the Dutch embassy on +31 247 247 247. We also recommend that you let family and friends know how you are doing.

You should regularly check this page and the travel advice for Israel (in Dutch) for updates.

If you are in the West Bank, you should leave if you can do so safely. Currently, flights to Amsterdam and other European cities are leaving from Tel Aviv, Eilat and Amman. You can also travel overland to Jordan. The opening times of the checkpoints and border crossings are unclear and unpredictable and can change at any moment. 

You can see the current opening times of the checkpoints on the Access Coordination Unit website.

You can see the current opening times of the border crossings here: 

• Allenby Bridge (King Hussein) crossing
•  Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein crossing
• Taba/Menahem Begin crossing
• Yitzhak Rabin/Arava crossing

Be aware that the situation is unpredictable and can change quickly. 

We hope your family is in a safe location. It is important that your family registers with the Foreign Affairs Information Service (information in Dutch). If this has not yet been done, your family must register immediately. You can also register them.
You as well can act as a contact person for your family members.

If your family members are fully registered with the Foreign Affairs Information Service (information in Dutch), the Foreign Affairs will contact you if there is important new information.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not have comprehensive information regarding the number of Dutch nationals in the affected area, since Dutch nationals who travel abroad are not required to register with the ministry. We are calling on all Dutch nationals in Israel and the Palestinian Territories to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Service if they have not yet done so. This will give us an overview of who is in the country and how we can reach them when necessary.

• A travel advisory indicates the safety risks for Dutch people in a country based on research into the current situation.
• A specialized department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains contacts with embassies worldwide for this purpose. The embassy investigates the security risks in the country. Sometimes areas are visited to assess the situation. Discussions take place with local authorities, intelligence services, companies, partner countries and other organizations.
• The Netherlands actively exchanges information with other countries and takes this into account when deciding whether or not to adjust a travel advisory.
• Would you like to know more about how a travel advisory is drawn up? You will find more information on the page How is a travel advisory made? (information in Dutch).

For the latest information, you are advised to follow local news and directions from local authorities. For more information and practical tips, visit https://www.oref.org.il.

The situation at the border can change quickly. Because of the security situation in Israel, the border crossings are or can be closed at any time for an unknown period of time. This applies to the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein crossing with the West Bank, the crossing with Israel at Aqaba/Eilat in the south, and the Jordan River crossing in the north of Jordan.

You can check the current opening times of the checkpoints on the Access Coordination Unit website. 

You can see the current opening times of the border crossings here: 

• Allenby Bridge/King Hussein crossing
• Jordan River/Sheikh Hussein crossing
• Yitzhak Rabin/Arava crossing

The choice to stay or leave is your own responsibility. Consider your options carefully. We recommend you check the travel advice for Jordan regularly. That is where you will find the most relevant and up-to-date information.  

No, the border between Lebanon and Israel is closed. It is not possible to travel to and from Lebanon by land.

You can see what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs work looks like via our live blog.

The embassy is open again for regular consular services since November 6. You can visit this page to see what the Dutch embassy in Tel Aviv can do for you.

You can also contact the Netherlands Worldwide Contact Centre 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can reach us on +31 247 247 247. You can also ask questions via WhatsApp by sending a message to +31 6 82 38 77 96.

The Dutch representation in Ramallah is currently closed to the public. The Dutch representation is only accessible to Dutch people who are in the Palestinian areas to a limited extent. Do you have an appointment at the Dutch representation in Ramallah soon? Keep a close eye on your email for changes surrounding your appointment.

If your Dutch passport is lost, expired or stolen, you can apply for an emergency document. Send an email to the representation for an appointment: ram-ca@minbuza.nl.

Dutch people in the Palestinian Territories can contact the Netherlands Worldwide contact center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can be reached via +31 247 247 247. If you have not already done so, we call on you to register with the Foreign Affairs Information Service. Then we can reach you if necessary.
You can also ask questions via WhatsApp on +31 6 82 38 77 96.

VFS Global in Tel Aviv has reopened to the public. You can apply for a short-stay visa for the Netherlands through VFS Global. 

The Dutch embassy in Tel Aviv has reopened to the public on 6 November. To make an appointment to apply for an authorisation for temporary stay (MVV), use the Make an appointment online at the embassy in Tel Aviv

No, no new visa applications are being processed at this time.
Only core family members of Dutch nationals who travel to the Netherlands can still apply for a visa. Send an email to the representation for an appointment: ram-ca@minbuza.nl.

The nuclear family members of Dutch people who can apply for a visa are:

• Husband/wife.
• Registered partner.
• Partner with whom an unmarried Dutch person has a notarial deed or runs a joint household.
• Dependent children (including adopted and stepchildren) up to the age of 18 in principle.
• Caring parent of a minor Dutch child.

At present it is not possible to make a new appointment to collect your MVV from the representation in Ramallah. Appointments scheduled in the coming weeks will be canceled by email. Keep a close eye on your email.

If the situation changes, we will mention this on the contact page of the representation in the Palestinian Territories.

It is possible to collect your MVV in another country. This is possible, for example, in Egypt, Israel or Jordan. If you want to collect your approved MVV in another country, please contact the IND first. The contact details are stated in the IND letter in which your application has been approved. You must ensure that you can travel to the surrounding countries yourself. The Dutch representation cannot help you with this.