Israel Warns of Threats to Israeli and Jewish Travelers Ahead of Passover

Latest Developments

• Increase in Attacks on Jews and Israelis Expected: Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) issued a travel advisory to Israelis on April 1, ahead of Passover when many Jews travel to celebrate the holiday. The advisory noted that the main instigator of plots against Israelis is Iran, which aims to avenge the “harm inflicted on high-ranking Iranian officials and senior Hezbollah and Hamas operatives” during the Israel-Hamas war. The NSC added that it expects an increase in attempts to attack Jews and Israelis abroad by Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah following the resumption of military activities in Gaza on March 18.
• Iran Main Instigator of Global Terrorism: Iran has used its global network to target Jewish institutions and individuals outside of Israel, including thwarting attempts to attack Israel’s diplomatic missions in Sweden and Belgium. Iran attempts to harm or kidnap Israeli citizens, contacting its targets with false emails or social media messages that impersonate a business or personal contact. The NSC also warned about an expected rise in threats from lone-wolf attackers and from terrorist organizations not aligned with Iran, such as ISIS and al-Qaeda, as part of a “Global Jihad.”
• Attacks on Jewish Institutions: “The backdrop of the hate-filled general feeling towards Israelis and Jews in many countries because of the war continues to fuel motivation among terrorists to carry out attacks against Israelis and Jews abroad,” the NSC stated. It listed several attacks on Jewish institutions, including in Australia, where a Jewish kindergarten and synagogue were set on fire and authorities foiled other attempts to attack Jewish targets. In Canada, there were several shootings at Jewish schools in Montreal and Toronto and a Molotov cocktail attack against a synagogue in Montreal.

FDD Expert Response

“Malicious actors such as Hamas have found it difficult to strike Israel in a meaningful way following more than a year of war in Gaza. Thus, it isn’t a coincidence that we are observing warnings of attempts against Israeli targets abroad. While Israel has successfully thwarted many of these plots, just one going unnoticed could be devastating.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“That one side in the Hamas-Israel war is waging a global campaign of terrorism on the other should be illuminating. Jews and Israelis must look over their shoulders and hire armed guards for their daycares while Hamas supporters live unworried by terrorist attacks. This global war of terrorism on Israel and Jews is important context often ignored by supposed human rights activists seeking to portray Israel’s defensive actions as unprovoked aggression.” — David May, Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“Iran’s Assassination Plots Against Jews Persist Despite the West’s Leniency on Regime,” Janatan Sayeh

“Iran’s ties to Western organized crime networks,” by Janatan Sayeh

“‘How Can You Do That to Children?’: Jewish Community Daycare Center Torched in Latest Antisemitic Outrage in Australia,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘Direct Ties to Senior Officials’: German Police Charge Members of Suspected Hamas Cell,” FDD Flash Brief