Israel imposed a travel ban affecting nationals from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and five other African countries following concerns over an Ebola outbreak.
The directive, issued on June 10, 2026, instructs airlines to block affected passengers from boarding flights to Israel.
This is despite Kenya not having reported a single case.
Other states whose nationals have also been restricted include Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and the outbreak’s epicentre, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In a memo to all airlines dated June 10, authorities urged carriers not to allow passengers from the mentioned countries on flights to Israel.
According to Israel’s Border Control Department, the restrictions also apply to travellers from other countries who have visited any of the listed nations within 21 days of departure.
Airlines have been ordered to conduct strict passenger screening and deny boarding where necessary.
The measures do not apply to Israeli citizens or permanent residents.
The government said the decision is part of broader efforts to contain the spread of Ebola, which has triggered heightened global travel precautions. Israel has not indicated how long the restrictions will remain in force as monitoring continues. “Following the outbreak of the Ebola virus and in accordance with the directives of Israel, effective from the receipt of this notice, it is prohibited to board foreign passengers who meet the criteria specified below on flights bound for Israel. You are required to prevent foreign citizens and residents of the following countries from boarding flights arriving in Israel: the DRC, South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda,” the memo states.
“Furthermore, boarding on flights to Israel must be denied to any foreign national who has stayed in or visited any of the countries listed above during the 21 days before the flight date, regardless of their citizenship or country of residence.”
To ensure strict compliance, the Authority directed all airlines to question every foreign passenger before boarding, including verifying whether they have stayed in any of the restricted countries during the past 21 days.
“If the answer is affirmative, they must not be permitted to board the flight to Israel,” the memo adds. “For the avoidance of doubt, this directive does not apply to Israeli citizens or Israeli residents. Your strict compliance with these directives and your cooperation are highly appreciated.”
Kenya has stepped up efforts to prevent the virus from entering the country, with screening and surveillance measures at Points of Entry, particularly along the Kenya-Uganda border.
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