Increasing Denials of Entry to Israel for International Visitors

Travelers arriving at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv are facing rising entry denials. U.S. and other international visitors report being denied entry after interrogations about their ties to Palestinians. Questions concerning their planned visits to the West Bank and views on Israel are also common. Lawyers for these travelers indicate that denials spiked in recent months.

In August, Israel refused entry to a group of international comedians set to perform at a Palestinian comedy festival and a U.S. multifaith delegation intending to tour the West Bank and Jerusalem with a Palestinian Christian organization. Israeli lawyers note that entry denials are occurring for reasons not previously considered valid, such as suspected anti-Israel views.

It’s a tremendous change, notes lawyer Adi Lustigman, mentioning that complaints about entry denials have become frequent.

The Israeli Interior Ministry stated they are not aware of widespread entry bans and emphasized that all travelers are subject to the same rules. Since 2025, more than 21,000 electronic travel authorization requests were denied by Israel. The U.S. State Department supports these actions as consistent with Israeli law aimed at mitigating security threats. However, there is a history of such entry denials.

Comedians’ Experience

In early August, comedian Ahmed Al-kadri from Los Angeles, along with other comedians from the U.S., Canada, and New Zealand, were denied entry to perform in the Palestine Comedy Festival. They reported being detained and deported after Israeli officials took issue with their alleged anti-Israel remarks. The festival, founded in 2015, experienced such bans for the first time.

Comedian Amer Zahr, responsible for organizing the festival, believes the bans are part of a broader pattern aimed at discouraging international involvement with Palestinians.

Jewish American Activists and Recent Trends

In recent years, Jewish American activists participating in nonviolent protective activities in the West Bank have faced deportation. These actions come amidst Israel’s increased deportation of international volunteers post-2024. Furthermore, legislation passed in 2025 bans any individual who denies certain events or calls for legal actions against Israeli soldiers from entry.

For instance, a multifaith group led by Rev. Ed Phillips planning to tour the West Bank was denied entry at the border. The incident remains unresolved despite intervention attempts by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel.

The increasing entry denials, often followed by harsh interrogations, highlight the growing tension between Israeli policies and international visitors, prompting concerns over the treatment and freedom of travel for these individuals.