Fact Check: The U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Israel to the highest level on June 17, 2025, warning U.S. citizens not to travel to the country.

Fact Check: "The U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Israel to the highest level on June 17, 2025, warning U.S. citizens not to travel to the country."

What We Know

The claim states that the U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Israel to the highest level on June 17, 2025. However, the travel advisory was actually updated on June 16, 2025, when the State Department issued a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza due to ongoing security concerns, including armed conflict and terrorism (source-1, source-2). The advisory was prompted by an "unpredictable security situation" and the authorized departure of family members of U.S. government employees (source-1).

Analysis

The claim inaccurately attributes the timing of the advisory update to June 17, 2025, when in fact, it occurred a day earlier. The U.S. State Department's advisory clearly states that U.S. citizens are advised against traveling to Israel due to the risks associated with armed conflict and terrorism. The advisory also emphasizes that the security situation is volatile and can change rapidly, which is a significant concern for travelers (source-1, source-3).

The sources used for this analysis are reliable, as they originate from the official U.S. government website and reputable news outlets. For instance, CBS News reported on the advisory update on June 16, 2025, confirming the change to a Level 4 advisory due to escalating tensions (source-5). Additionally, USA Today corroborated this information, noting the shift from a Level 3 to a Level 4 advisory and the reasons behind it (source-8).

Conclusion

The claim that the U.S. State Department raised its travel advisory for Israel to the highest level on June 17, 2025, is False. The advisory was updated on June 16, 2025, not June 17, and it explicitly warned against travel to Israel due to security concerns. The misinformation regarding the date of the advisory's issuance is a critical error that misrepresents the situation.

Sources

1. Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Travel Advisory (June 16, 2025)
2. Security Alert: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem (June 16, 2025)
3. Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Travel Advisory
4. Travel Advisories
5. State Department elevates travel advisory for Israel to "do not travel"
6. State Department urges US citizens not to travel and leave Israel