Following the breakout of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7, 2023, the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) has stopped reviewing visa extension applications submitted by foreign passport holders, thereby preventing them from being able to continue staying in the West Bank legally.
In addition, the Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Occupied Territories (COGAT) has almost completely stopped reviewing West Bank entry applications submitted by foreign passport holders who are married to Palestinian ID holders, or who work, study or volunteer in the West Bank.
October 17, 2023, our office demanded that both the ICA and COGAT provide solutions to those problems and refrain from causing additional harm to these people and their families.
On October 18, 2023 we received partial response from the Israeli Civil Administration stating that that it has now resumed reviewing visa extension applications for foreign passport holders, and requests to enter Israel for flying from Ben-Gurion Airport, in special cases.
The ICA informed our office that foreign passport holders whose visas have expired recently, and on the day of October 7, 2023 held a valid visa, should apply for extension until October 27, 2023 – and their visas will be extended. If they submit their applications on time, the ICA has stated that it would not consider the period they stayed without a valid visa as a breach of the visa terms.
