Canada warns its citizens to avoid ‘all’ travel to Israel

The Canadian government warned its citizens on Saturday to avoid “all travel” to Israel, given the growing risk that the armed conflict in the Middle East will escalate, especially after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran on Wednesday, which is blamed on the Hebrew state. “We have changed the risk level for Israel to ‘Avoid all travel,'” the Canadian government announced on the social network X, warning that “the security situation may deteriorate further without warning” in the region. In a travel advisory, Canadian authorities have warned their citizens of the difficulties in leaving Israeli territory if the armed conflict escalates: “It may lead to travel disruptions, including closure of airspace and cancellation and diversion of flights.” Those Canadian citizens who instead wish to remain in Israel will be able to receive information through an “alert application” provided by their government, who advises them to follow “the instructions of local authorities.” This warning comes after the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, promised a “harsh punishment” for Israel for the death on Wednesday of Haniyeh in Tehran with a missile launched from outside the country.