MANILA -- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) urged the Filipino people on Tuesday to hold off their trip to the Holy Land sites while hostilities in the Gaza Strip are still ongoing.

“We haven’t put a travel ban on Israel. But our embassy has issued a travel advisory, so as much as possible, avoid traveling right now,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega said in a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

While these Holy Land sites are not the areas in conflict, it is not normal to visit a country that is under a state of war, according to De Vega.

“We’re not telling you not to go but we’re advising you that it’s best, if possible, to postpone them until we’re absolutely sure that the hostilities have ended because after all, even the Prime Minister of Israel has said that we are in a state of war. So, it’s not normal for somebody to want to visit the country which is in a state of war,” he said.

De Vera said holding off such leisure trips would help avoid future problems as he mentioned that there were Filipinos who had a problem with their flight out from Israel but eventually were able to get back to the Philippines before succeeding flights were canceled.

Citing the security situation, several airlines in Asia have canceled their flights to Tel Aviv, including Hainan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Korean Air. Other leading international air carriers have followed suit. (PND)