Israel raises threat level for citizens traveling abroad ahead of Hanukkah

Israel's National Security Council has issued a new travel advisory Monday to citizens traveling and living abroad as it has "identified increased efforts by Iran and its proxies, including Hamas and Global Jihad factions, to harm Israeli and Jewish targets around the world."

The NSC said in a statement that "Since the beginning of Operation Swords of Iron, the National Security Council has been conducting ongoing situation assessments together with the Israeli security organizations."

"The threat level for many countries in Western Europe (including the UK, France and Germany), South America (including Brazil and Argentina), as well as Australia and Russia, has been raised to level 2, with the recommendation to exercise increased precaution," it noted.

"The threat level for countries in Africa (including South Africa and Eritrea) and Central Asia (including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan) has been raised to level 3, with the recommendation to reconsider non-essential travel to these countries," the statement added.

The NSC also said "Since the beginning of the war, we have identified increased efforts by Iran and its proxies, including Hamas and Global Jihad factions, to harm Israeli and Jewish targets around the world" and "At the same time, there is a constant and significant rise in incitement, attempted attacks and manifestations of antisemitism in many countries."