TRAVEL WARNING: Iran and Hamas are ramping up global attacks on Jews- Here's what you need to know 

Israel’s National Security Headquarters (NSH) issued a strong warning today, urging heightened vigilance among Israelis abroad as terror threats escalate ahead of the 2025 spring holidays and summer vacations.

The NSH statement, aimed at bolstering public awareness, outlines key trends in terrorist activities worldwide that threaten Israelis. “Iran remains the primary driver of global terror, both directly and via proxies, targeting Israelis and Jews across the globe,” the advisory reads, pointing to Tehran’s use of attacks as a policy tool and a retaliatory measure following Israeli strikes on senior Iranian, Hezbollah, and Hamas figures during the ongoing “Swords of Iron” war. Over the past year, multiple Iranian plots, including attacks on Israeli embassies in Sweden and Belgium, were thwarted, while operatives have increasingly used online deception, posing as business contacts to lure Israelis for abduction or harm.

Hamas, reeling from its losses in Gaza after the ceasefire collapsed on March 18, is also stepping up efforts to strike abroad. Since October 2023, the NSH and its partners have dismantled Hamas cells in Denmark, Germany, Bulgaria, and Sweden, all plotting hits on Israeli targets. “We expect Hamas to intensify these attempts as fighting resumes in Gaza,” the statement warns, noting the group’s desperation to offset its setbacks.

Global jihadist groups, particularly the Islamic State (ISIS), al-Qaeda, and affiliates like al-Shabaab, are adding to the peril, with a marked uptick in attacks across Europe. The NSH predicts a surge in lone-wolf and local initiatives targeting Israelis and Jews, fueled by the Gaza conflict’s fallout. ISIS, in particular, has renewed calls to hit Jewish sites, a threat borne out by recent attacks: a New Orleans ramming on New Year’s Eve killed 14 and injured 57, while Germany and Austria saw ramming and stabbing incidents, with further plots foiled in Sweden and Turkey.

Closer to home, Sinai remains a high-risk zone despite reduced Israeli tourism, with the NSH reiterating its Level 4 travel warning—urging citizens to avoid the peninsula due to persistent terror threats. Beyond direct attacks, antisemitism is surging globally, with hundreds of violent incidents since the war began, including the November 7, 2024, Amsterdam riots against Maccabi Tel Aviv fans. Australia and Canada have also reported synagogue arsons and thwarted bombings targeting Jewish communities.

Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, particularly Afghanistan, the Philippines, and Pakistan, host much of the jihadist infrastructure, though Europe’s vulnerability remains acute. The NSH links this heightened risk to potential flare-ups in Judea and Samaria, Jerusalem, and Israel itself, which could further stoke anti-Israel violence abroad.

The advisory updates Israel’s travel warnings, accessible 24/7 via the NSH website or a hotline (02-6667444), offering tailored guidance for varying risk levels. “Our citizens’ safety, at home and abroad, remains paramount,” the statement concludes, signaling a proactive stance as the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad intensify efforts to counter these threats.