NSC warns terror threats against Israelis and Jews are rising ahead of High Holy Days

Israel’s National Security Council has warned that terrorist groups and individual attackers continue to look for opportunities to target Israelis and Jews worldwide ahead of the 2026 High Holy Days. The council said its updated assessment aims to raise awareness and encourage preventive measures, but does not issue a new set of travel warnings.

The NSC said Israel’s ongoing confrontations with Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas have widened the threat to Israelis abroad. It also pointed to increasingly hostile anti-Israel rhetoric and incitement as factors contributing to greater motivation among terrorist groups and individual attackers.

October 2026 could prove particularly sensitive, the council said, because it will mark the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre. Large-scale protests may take place, some potentially turning violent, while terrorist organizations could intensify efforts to carry out attacks.

Iran and its proxies remain the principal global terrorist threat to Israelis and Jews, according to the assessment. Tehran continues to pursue operations through its own networks, proxy groups and criminal organizations, partly in response to blows it has suffered in recent years. The NSC also said Hamas is investing heavily in terrorist infrastructure in Europe and other countries for revenge or high-profile attacks against Israelis and Jews. The Houthis have called for attacks on Israel and Israelis travelling to Somaliland and elsewhere in Africa.

Countries around Iran are especially exposed because of existing networks and their proximity to the Islamic Republic. The council specifically named Azerbaijan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Jordan, Qatar, Somaliland and Egypt, including the Sinai Peninsula, remain under Level 4 travel warnings, and Israelis were told to avoid travel to or staying in those areas. Iraq, Yemen, Iran, Syria and Lebanon remain prohibited destinations under Israeli law, while travel to Saudi Arabia remains legally restricted. The NSC also advised avoiding Bangladesh, Somalia and Pakistan.