Middle East
Is Palestine safe?
L4Do not travel
Is Palestine safe?
Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho and East Jerusalem can be visited with care, but raids, settler violence and sudden checkpoint closures are frequent. Gaza, Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas are off-limits.
Key facts
- US travel advisory: Level 4: Do not travel, updated 2026-08-25.
- Homicide rate: 0.6 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths: 5.3 per 100,000 people a year (2016, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 100 · Ambulance 101 · Fire 102.
- Solo women: Conservative society; harassment possible, though hospitality is strong. Dress modestly, especially outside Ramallah, and avoid travelling between towns after dark.
Risks, scams and laws
Main risks
- Israeli military raids, especially Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas
- Settler violence near settlements and outposts
- Checkpoint closures and protests, often after Friday prayers
- Missile intercept debris; no sirens outside settlements
Laws visitors break by accident
- Don't photograph Israeli soldiers, checkpoints, police or military sites.
- Israeli rental cars aren't allowed into Area A, and Israeli law bars Israeli citizens from entering.
- Eating, drinking or smoking in public during Ramadan daytime causes serious offence.
Safety by place in Palestine
Quick answers
Is Palestine safe for tourists?
Bethlehem, Ramallah, Jericho and East Jerusalem can be visited with care, but raids, settler violence and sudden checkpoint closures are frequent. Gaza, Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas are off-limits.
Is Palestine safe for solo female travelers?
Conservative society; harassment possible, though hospitality is strong. Dress modestly, especially outside Ramallah, and avoid travelling between towns after dark.
What is the emergency number in Palestine?
Police 100 · Ambulance 101 · Fire 102.
Safety by place
Sources
- World Bank: intentional homicides
- US State Department travel advisory
- UK FCDO travel advice: The Occupied Palestinian Territories
- ETA-IL (Israel Population and Immigration Authority)
- Travel Palestine (Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.