India asks nationals in Israel to stay vigilant, avoid non-essential travel amid regional tensions

New Delhi: India has issued a fresh advisory for its nationals in Israel, urging them to remain vigilant and strictly follow safety instructions issued by local authorities as tensions rise across the Middle East. The advisory also cautioned Indian citizens against undertaking non-essential travel to Israel in view of the evolving security situation.

"In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indian nationals currently in Israel are advised to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to the safety guidelines and protocols issued by the Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command,” the MEA advisory said.

"Indian nationals are also advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Israel. In case of any emergency, Indian nationals may contact the Embassy of India’s 24x7 helpline at: Telephone: +972-54-7520711; +972-54-3278392," the advisory added.

The advisory was issued by the Ministry of External Affairs amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty in the region, driven by unrest in Iran and the possibility of wider military escalation involving the United States.

Iran is currently witnessing widespread protests, with the US indicating that it has not ruled out interference or military action. In response, Tehran has warned that American military bases in the region would be treated as legitimate targets if the US were to attack Iran. These developments have raised concerns in Israel, a long-standing regional rival of Iran, prompting heightened security preparedness.

Local media reports said several areas in southern and central Israel have ordered the opening of public shelters as a precautionary measure. According to Turkey’s Anadolu agency, the mayor of Dimona in southern Israel directed authorities to open shelters across the city, saying it was "better to be prepared than surprised.”

The advisory for Israel comes even as India prepares contingency plans to evacuate its citizens from Iran due to the deteriorating situation there. On Wednesday, the Indian Embassy in Tehran issued a fresh notice advising Indian nationals to leave Iran using available transport options, including commercial flights.

The embassy urged Indian students, pilgrims, businesspersons and tourists to exercise extreme caution and stay away from areas where protests or demonstrations are taking place. It also asked citizens to remain in touch with the embassy and closely follow local media updates.

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According to official estimates, more than 10,000 Indians, including a large number of students, are currently living in Iran. Indian authorities have said they are closely monitoring the situation and will take further steps as required to ensure the safety of Indian nationals in the region.