Israel has lifted temporary Ebola-related entry restrictions that had been imposed on travelers from Kenya, following a diplomatic protest by the Kenyan government over its inclusion on a list of countries considered at risk due to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa.
The restrictions were introduced through a directive issued on June 10, 2026, by Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority. The directive barred foreign citizens and residents from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from boarding flights to Israel. The measures also applied to foreign nationals who had visited any of the listed countries within 21 days before travel.
Kenya Objects to Inclusion
Kenya strongly opposed the decision, arguing that the country had not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases despite extensive surveillance and testing efforts. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei described Kenya’s inclusion on the list as unjustified, noting that the country had conducted more than 80,000 Ebola tests without detecting a single case.
The Kenyan government maintained that its public health systems remained vigilant and that the country had played a significant role in regional disease surveillance and response efforts.
Israel Reverses Decision
Following Kenya’s protest, Israel announced that both Kenya and Rwanda had been removed from the list of countries subject to the temporary Ebola-related restrictions. The announcement was made by the Israeli Embassy in Kenya, which stated that Israel’s Ministry of Health had reviewed the measures and decided to lift the restrictions for the two countries.
Kenyan officials welcomed the move, describing it as a demonstration of the importance of science, dialogue, and cooperation in addressing public health concerns.
Regional Ebola Concerns
The restrictions were introduced amid concerns over an Ebola outbreak affecting parts of the DRC and Uganda. Several countries have implemented precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus, although Kenya has continued to report zero confirmed cases.
With the latest decision, travelers from Kenya will no longer be subject to the temporary entry restrictions previously imposed by Israel, easing concerns over travel and reinforcing diplomatic ties between the two countries.
