A new warning circulated this weekend from a Jerusalem seminary after reported incidents involving girls and women who attempted to leave Israel through Egypt. The letter said families were told about extremely distressing incidents, including cases where women were separated from male relatives and subjected to troubling experiences. Some of the individuals involved have chosen not to publicly share details, but asked that others be warned.
The warning reflects a broader reality. Trying to leave Israel through neighboring countries right now carries serious security, safety, and logistical risks, especially for young travelers or anyone moving without a tightly coordinated plan.
This situation comes as Israel slowly begins restoring outbound air travel from Ben Gurion Airport after the war related shutdown. The reopening is limited, with only a small number of passengers able to depart at first. Seats are tightly controlled and many travelers are still looking for alternatives. That has led some people to consider land routes through Egypt or Jordan, but those routes should not be viewed as simple substitutes for a normal airport departure.
Why Taba Is Not a Simple Workaround
The Taba border crossing between Israel and Egypt has become a major route for people trying to exit Israel. Travelers often cross into Egypt and then attempt to continue to Sharm el Sheikh airport or Cairo to find outbound flights.
However, this process is far more complicated than many people assume. Travelers crossing at Taba may receive a free South Sinai entry stamp or may need to purchase a visa depending on where they intend to travel. The free entry stamp only allows movement within the South Sinai region. Anyone planning to travel beyond that zone must obtain the correct visa.
In other words, crossing the border does not guarantee the ability to continue onward to any airport in Egypt. Travel permissions, visas, transportation logistics, and airline availability all affect whether a traveler can successfully leave the country.
There are also security concerns. Israeli security officials have warned travelers entering or returning via Egypt to move directly between the airport and the Taba border crossing without staying in Egypt. That guidance highlights the difference between a controlled transit and casual travel through the region.
Travel advisories have also noted that harassment of women, including foreign women, has been documented in Egypt. Reports have included vulgar comments, aggressive behavior, unwanted physical contact, and other forms of harassment. Border areas and remote regions also present additional safety concerns.
This does not mean every traveler will encounter problems. It does mean families should not assume that a trip through Taba and onward flights from Sinai or Cairo are simple or low risk options, especially for seminary students, young travelers, or women traveling without organized supervision.
Amman Is More Structured, But Still Unstable
Another option some travelers are considering is leaving Israel through a land crossing into Jordan and flying out of Queen Alia International Airport in Amman. This route can appear more organized because Amman operates a large international airport with connections to many global destinations.
However, Jordan is also operating under heightened security conditions due to the ongoing regional conflict. Travel advisories recently raised the alert level for Jordan, citing security concerns connected to the broader war environment.
The advisory notes the potential for drone activity, missile threats, and disruptions to commercial aviation throughout the region. Border crossings and airport operations can also change quickly depending on security developments.
Flights from Amman may be operating, but travelers should understand that schedules, airport conditions, and border procedures can shift with little notice.
The Real Risk Is Losing Control of the Journey
One of the biggest mistakes during a crisis is assuming that an open border or an available flight means the route is safe and manageable.
A crossing might be open. A plane ticket might be available. Someone in a group chat might say they made it through.
That does not mean the entire route is appropriate for your child or for someone traveling alone.
The risks fall into several categories:
Personal safety concerns, especially for women or younger travelers moving through unfamiliar border areas, transportation hubs, or overnight accommodations.
Logistical risks including visa restrictions, unexpected border closures, airline cancellations, missed connections, and transportation disruptions.
Regional instability connected to the ongoing war environment, which can quickly change border policies and flight operations.
What Families Should Consider Instead
Families considering sending someone out of Israel through Taba or Amman should pause and reassess the situation carefully.
If possible, use Ben Gurion Airport once confirmed outbound flights become available through the limited reopening system. Those flights are being managed more directly and offer a controlled departure point.
If a land exit becomes necessary, it should only be arranged through a trusted institution, licensed travel operator, organized evacuation group, or official repatriation effort with clearly coordinated transportation and flights.
Families should avoid sending daughters, sons, or spouses on routes organized through informal messaging groups or unverified travel suggestions.
Anyone who must travel through these routes should have a confirmed onward flight, verified border operating hours, proper visas if required, a known driver or escort, consistent communication with family, and contingency plans in case travel conditions change suddenly.
Bottom Line
The message families should take from the seminary warning is clear.
Even if every reported incident has not been publicly documented, the broader warning reflects real risks that already exist when traveling through Egypt or Jordan during a period of regional conflict.
Taba and Amman are not normal travel corridors right now. They are emergency transit routes during wartime conditions.
Just because a route exists does not mean it is the safest or smartest option.
Families should proceed with caution and prioritize structured, verified travel arrangements whenever possible.
Sources
• https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-main-airport-reopen-monday-extremely-limited-format-2026-03-02/
• https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-news-updates-2026/card/israel-set-to-open-airport-for-limited-outbound-flights-sunday-rZKDARwcADsoIg2peJeK
• https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/egypt.html
• https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/jordan-travel-advisory.html
• https://jo.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-amman-jordan-march-8-2026-update-2/
• https://www.osac.gov/Content/Report/ee2d3b0a-62f4-4d06-9710-298ecac095ae
• https://www.gov.il/en/pages/ari2026
