2006 Warden Messages
Warden Message
March 1, 2006
The U.S. Consulate General urges all American organizations in Gaza and the West Bank to pay particular attention to the safety of their personnel. In the past, militants and gunmen in the Gaza Strip have abducted foreigners -- including journalists, diplomats, aid workers, and others -- and held them hostage for short periods. We cannot rule out the possibility that militants may now begin targeting expatriate or Palestinian employees of U.S. organizations currently operating in Gaza and the West Bank. Therefore employees of American organizations should exercise heightened caution and awareness and take all appropriate measures to increase their personal security.
As a reminder, the consulate continues to warn all U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip, and to defer unnecessary travel to the West Bank, per the State Department Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza dated February 27, 2006. We also repeat the State Department's warning to all American citizens in the Gaza Strip to depart immediately, a policy which has been in effect since the deadly roadside bombing of a U.S. Embassy convoy in Gaza on October 15, 2003. Please note that travel to the Gaza Strip by U.S. Government personnel is prohibited. Overall conditions of lawlessness prevail in the Gaza Strip, and violence between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and militant groups based in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank can flare up without notice in the form of rocket attacks into Israel by Palestinian militants, targeted assassinations of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces, and ongoing IDF security operations in the West Bank. The uncertain security conditions within the West Bank and Gaza continue as well, with the potential for violent protests, kidnappings, including of foreign nationals, and fighting between various armed factions.
Americans in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are strongly encouraged to register with the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem through the State Department's travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. U.S. citizens who require emergency services may telephone the Consulate General in Jerusalem at (972)(2) 622-7250. Current information on travel and security in Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank may be obtained from the Department of State by calling toll-free 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada or, from overseas, a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8 am to 8 pm Eastern Time Monday through Friday, except U.S. federal holidays. U.S. citizens should consult the Consular Information Sheet for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza; the Travel Warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, the Middle East and North Africa Public Announcement; and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement on the Department's Internet website at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be accessed at http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov.