trips to lebanon from uk

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Warnings and insurance

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

 Areas where FCDO advises against travel

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.

FCDO advises against all travel to Lebanon. If you are currently in Lebanon we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available.

For further information on why we advise against travel, see the ‘Conflict affecting Lebanon’ and Regional risks.

Departure from Lebanon

Events in Lebanon are fast moving. The situation has potential to deteriorate quickly and with no warning.

Commercial routes out of Lebanon could be severely disrupted or cancelled at short notice and roads across the country could be closed.  If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave now while commercial options remain available .

Travel within or out of Lebanon is at your own risk. The FCDO cannot tell you whether it is safe to travel to any departure point within Lebanon. However, see safety and security   for information on known security risks in Lebanon and advice on how to keep yourself safe.

Make sure you have correct and up-to-date travel documents, including a  passport  and  visa  if necessary, for yourself and anyone travelling with you, even if they are not British nationals.

Check our travel advice for any neighbouring country that you are planning to travel to or through.

In the event of deterioration in the political or security situation, the British embassy may be increasingly limited in the assistance that it can provide. Do not rely on  FCDO  being able to evacuate you in an emergency.

Read FCDO advice on what to do  if you’re affected by a crisis abroad and how to prepare.

If you cannot leave Lebanon

You should have a personal emergency plan that does not rely on the UK government and be prepared in case you need to leave quickly. However, if you cannot leave Lebanon, you should shelter in place if you judge it necessary and safe to do so.

See safety and security and regional risks for information on known security risks in Lebanon and advice on how to keep yourself safe. You should sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

Conflict affecting Lebanon

FCDO  advises against all travel to Lebanon due to risks associated with the conflict between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. There are ongoing mortar and artillery exchanges and airstrikes in Lebanon, primarily on the boundary with Israel but also elsewhere in the country. Online maps may provide a useful guide to recently affected areas. Tensions are high and events could escalate with little warning, which could affect or limit exit routes out of Lebanon.

There is also a risk of civil unrest. There have been large protests outside embassies, including outside the US and French embassies on 17 October. Further protests are expected. British nationals should exercise caution and avoid areas where demonstrations may be held.

The embassy is continuing with essential work including services to British nationals.

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

Help and support in Lebanon

You can contact the emergency services by calling 112.

If you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attacked, arrested or someone has died), call +961 (0)1 960 800.

If you’re in Lebanon and you need advice which is not covered by reading our travel advice, you can contact FCDO online .

While 24-hour consular assistance is available by phone or online, in-person consular support is severely limited in parts of Lebanon where we advise against all travel and limited where we advise against all but essential travel.  

If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission .

Travel insurance 

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

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Lebanon Tours & Holidays

Small group tours & tailor-made holidays.

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Emerging from the ashes of its war-torn past, Lebanon has undergone a rebirth in recent years to present visitors with a country that enjoys the rich benefits of an ancient past and a bustling Mediterranean future. Bordered by Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, the impact of Arabic, Roman and French influences are clearly visible everywhere you look. There is no better way to explore this country than on one of our Lebanon tours or tailor-made holidays. 

A popular ...

A popular tourist hotspot before the Lebanese Civil War, it was known in its heyday as the "Switzerland of the East", whilst its capital, Beirut, enjoyed the title of "Paris of the Middle East". Since the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, the country has worked hard to rebuild its reputation again and visitor numbers are steadily on the increase.

Today, Lebanon is a hub of cultural activity, with a thriving arts and fashion scene in and around Beirut's bustling coffee shops and boulevards. Away from the chic buzz of its thriving cities, the country’s historic past can be seen in its crusader castles and the crumbling ruins of the 7th century Umayyad city of Aanjar. Across the mountains of the east, through the terraced hills of the Shuf region and down to the beaches of the western coastline, Lebanon is an easily accessible, vibrant and modern country perfect for an extraordinary adventure. Explore it all on one of our Lebanon holidays or group tours.

Meet the Expert

Start your journey, group tours.

Travel to Lebanon with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.

TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS

Suggested itineraries, highlights of lebanon, best experiences.

Explore Beirut's arts and culture

Discover some of the hidden delights of Beirut’s cultural heritage, with visits to a calligraphy artist, a traditional oud workshop, tea and backgammon with the locals and an artist-led tour at the Beirut Arts Centre, before dinner with a live oud performance.

Help with the annual grape harvest

The perfect excursion for wine lovers to find a new appreciation of wine production. Most wineries in Lebanon harvest by hand, ensuring only the best bunches are selected. Discover the steps of the grape picking process, then enjoy a wine tasting and lunch.

Take a Lebanese cooking class

Lebanese cuisine is world-renowned and often described as the “pearl of the Arabian kitchen”. Meet with residents of Byblos in their home to discover how to make a range of authentic Lebanese dishes and then enjoying the fruits of your labours with your hosts.

Explore the Phoenician ports

Explore the southern Phoenician port cities of Sidon and Tyre, set along the Mediterranean Sea. In Sidon, the highlights are the Temple of Echmoun and the Castle of the Sea and Tyre is the birthplace of the legendary Queen Dido and, allegedly, purple dye.

Plant a cedar tree

The Cedars Forever program was created to restore Lebanon’s mountains by planting cedar trees, which are threatened by extinction. The aim is to reforest an area of 14 million square metres in 10 years. If you wish, you can adopt a cedar tree yourself.

Walk the corniche to Pigeon Rocks

Beirut has a stunning location on the Mediterranean Sea. Take in the scenery as you walk along the seaside promenade, known as ‘Corniche’. Wander until you reach the famous Pigeon Rocks, standing 60 metres tall. This special spot most atmospheric at sunset.

Visit the Roman ruins of Baalbek

Baalbek is probably the most impressive historical site in Lebanon and has some of the best Roman ruins in the Middle East. The temple complex contains the monumental Temple of Jupiter, smaller but better preserved Temple of Bacchus and the Temple of Venus.

Discover glass blowing in Sarafand

Sarafand has a long history of glass blowing after the Phoenician’s perfected the technique to create transparent glass ornaments using traditional methods. Check out a family workshop, which recycles seven million bottles a year into beautiful new glasses.

Ride through the ancient cedars

Meet your guide at a professional horse-riding club near the Ain Zhalta Bmohray entrance of the reserve and ride through the the natural scenery and native cedars. This activity is aimed towards riders of all levels.

TOP PLACES TO VISIT

Baalbek is probably the most impressive historical site in Lebanon and has some of the best Roman ruins in the Middle East. Originally the site of a temple devoted to the Semitic god Baal, the Greeks ...

Before the civil war, Beirut was known as the Paris of the Middle East, a cosmopolitan city famous for its nightlife, beaches and restaurants. Beirut suffered grave damage during the civil war of 1975-1992 ...

Byblos is a picturesque port city with a wonderful archaeological site. It is known as the world's oldest continually inhabited town and the remains here date from the Stone Age through to the Crusaders....

Shouf Biosphere Reserve

Most of Lebanon used to be populated with cedar trees, which provided the timber for the boats that made the Phoenicians such renowned sailors as well as wealthy merchants of the Mediterranean. Today ...

In the south of Lebanon lies the Phoenician port city of Tyre. Tyre was badly affected during WW2 but the archaeological remains are impressive, most of them dating from Greek and Roman times. The best ...

OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY

Albergo, Beirut

Beit Faris wa Lucia, Byblos

Dar Alma, Tyre

Le Gray, Beirut

Palmyra Hotel, Baalbek

Zanzoun, Beirut

Discover more.

Despite its Middle Eastern location, Lebanon has a mild climate with four seasons. Spring (March - May) and autumn (October - November) are considered the best times to visit due to milder temperatures and less rain. However, weather can be unpredictable at any time of year, especially if going to the more mountainous regions, so please allow for both hot and cold weather during your visit.

Meet the expert, Dan

Dan is our Middle East expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.

Speak to Daniel by calling +44 (0)20 3944 6258

USEFUL INFORMATION

Travel tips.

• Enjoy freshly cooked fish by the harbour side in Byblos

• Sample the delights of Chateau Ksara wines in the Bekaa Valley

• See the Cedars in the less visited Chouf National Park

• Enjoy the nightlife in Lebanon's undiscovered gem, Batroun.

• Go walking in the Hermel mountains

Practical Information

Time: Lebanon is 2hrs ahead of GMT. A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com

Food and Alcohol: When the Lebanese eat out, they will usually order group meals - a selection of mezze, or starters, followed by main meals to share. Arabic unleavened bread, or khoobz Arabi, is eaten with almost everything. The other staples are falafel, deep-fried chickpea balls; shwarma, spit-cooked sliced lamb and foul; a paste of fava beans, garlic and lemon. Mensaf is a Bedouin speciality - a whole lamb, head included, on a bed of rice and pine nuts. Lebanese food is often described as the “pearl of the Arabian kitchen” so eating well is nothing to worry about with their kebabs, tabbouleh, couscous and fresh salads. Vegetarians or those with special dietary needs can also be catered for; much of mezze is vegetarian.

Alcohol is available in Lebanon but with much of the population being Muslim it is not as plentiful as other nations.

Money: In Lebanon the official unit of currency is the Lebanese pound. To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com

Language & Religion: Article 11 of Lebanon's Constitution states that "Arabic is the official national language. A law determines the cases in which the French language may be used". The majority of Lebanese people speak Arabic and either French or English fluently. Moreover, Lebanese people of Armenian or Greek descent also speak Armenian or Greek fluently. Also in use is Kurdish spoken by some of the Kurdish minorities in Lebanon, and Syriac by the Syriac minorities.

Religion is split with around 60% being of various Muslim varieties with the Shi’a Muslims being the largest group, and the remaining 40% being different variations of Christianity.

Travelling Solo In Lebanon

All of our   small group tours   are designed to cater for   solo travellers : the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.

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Lebanon is an incredibly diverse country. The capital Beirut is one of the Middle East's most liberal and cosmopolitan cities, while ancient Roman ruins are just down the road from this metropolis. This small Mediterranean country mixes the best of Middle Eastern culture with modern technologies and ways of thinking. It's a must for people who appreciate a mix of both tradition and progress. The Lebanon tour will take you to this country's best. Touring Beirut, the sprawling Jeita Caverns, and the Roman temples of Baalbek are just the beginning of what you'll experience in 'The Pearl of the Middle East.' Our five-day tour runs twice a year, every April and August. Book a tour today to Lebanon and its capital Beirut, which many consider the Middle Eastern version of Paris!

Upcoming Tours

Our current upcoming group tours can be seen below. They are all guaranteed departures.

We run two tours a year to Lebanon, taking in all the highlights of the country.

It's often possible to link up our April Lebanon tours with our Iraq and Iran trips.

Visa on arrival is possible for most nationalities.

Our tours are priced at £645 per person. Rooms are on a twin basis.

Single supplement is priced at £150 or we can allocate someone for you to share with (subject to availability).

Deposit required to confirm your booking is £250.

Other Tours To The Middle East

Iraqi Kurdistan

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One country from every region of the world for your ultimate travel bucket list, error_outline security advice.

Please note that although we only run tours to areas we feel we can keep our clients safe, the British FCO advises against all travel to Baalbek and all but essential travel to the Southern region of Beirut, near to the airport.

We research the security of our destinations highly and safety is a priority for us, however, we advise you to do your own research as well to ensure you are comfortable with your trip.

Please note these travel warnings may also affect travel insurance for these regions, please contact us for advice on this. For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, click here

This tour is currently full.

To be added to the waiting list, please fill out the form below.

Please agreed to the T&Cs.

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Information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad. About us.

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Lebanon (Middle East)

Advice for all destinations.

Read the information on the COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel page for advice on travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccinations and malaria risk

Review both the Vaccination and Malaria sections on this page to find out if you may need vaccines and/or a malaria risk assessment before you travel to this country.

If you think you require vaccines and/or malaria risk assessment, you should make an appointment with a travel health professional:

• How to make an appointment with a travel health professional

A travel health risk assessment is also advisable for some people, even when vaccines or malaria tablets are not required.

• Do I need a travel health risk assessment?

Risk prevention advice 

Many of the health risks experienced by travellers cannot be prevented by vaccines and other measures need to be taken.

Always make sure you understand the wider risks at your destination and take precautions, including:

• food and water safety
• accident prevention
• avoiding insect bites
• preventing and treating animal bites
• respiratory hygiene
• hand hygiene

Our advice section gives detailed information on minimising specific health risks abroad:

• Travel Health Advice A-Z

Other health considerations

Make sure you have travel insurance before travel to cover healthcare abroad.

Find out if there are any restrictions you need to consider if you are travelling with medicines .

Know how to access healthcare at your destination: see the GOV.UK English speaking doctors and medical facilities: worldwide list

If you feel unwell on your return home from travelling abroad, always seek advice from a healthcare professional and let them know your travel history.

Vaccinations

• Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including for example, seasonal flu vaccine (if indicated), MMR , vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
• Courses or boosters usually advised: Diphtheria; Tetanus.
• Other vaccines to consider: Hepatitis A; Rabies.
• Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: Cholera; Hepatitis B.

No yellow fever vaccination certificate required for this country.

Notes on the diseases mentioned above

Risk is higher during floods and after natural disasters, in areas with very poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water.

• Diphtheria :  spread person to person through respiratory droplets. Risk is higher if mixing with locals in poor, overcrowded living conditions.

Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation is poor.

Risk is higher for long stays, frequent travel and for children (exposed through cuts and scratches), those who may require medical treatment during travel.

• Tetanus :  spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available.
• Malaria not normally present unless the illness was contracted abroad.

Other Health Risks

Altitude and travel, schistosomiasis.

There is a risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) in this country.

Please be aware that the risk of COVID-19 in this country may change at short notice and also consider your risk of exposure in any transit countries and from travelling itself. 

• The 'News' section on this page will advise if significant case increases or outbreaks have occurred in this country.

Prior to travel, you should:

• Check the latest government guidance on the FCDO Foreign travel advice and country specific pages for travel to this country and the rules for entering the UK on return.
• Ensure you are up to date with UK recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination.
• You can check this in the FAQ's.
• If you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 you should carefully  consider your travel plans  and consider seeking medical advice prior to making any decisions.

For further information, see  Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)  and  COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel  pages.

• 43 additional items in the news archive for this country

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Find cheap flights to Beirut from £120

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight to beirut departing on 27/5. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to beirut.

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Cheap flight deals to Beirut

Flights to beirut - travel insights & trends, get data-powered insights and trends into flights to beirut to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more., what is the cheapest flight to beirut.

If travelling to Beirut, the cheapest city to fly from in the last 3 days was Manchester , with flights as low as £96 one-way and £190 return. Flights from London are the most searched and start at $198 for a return trip.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Beirut?

Based on kayak data, the cheapest day to fly to beirut is tuesday where tickets can be as cheap as £479. on the other hand, the most expensive day to fly is saturday, where prices are £507 on average., what is the cheapest month to fly to beirut, the cheapest month for flights to beirut is november, where tickets cost £328 on average for one-way flights. on the other hand, the most expensive months are august and july, where the average cost of tickets from the united kingdom is £712 and £689 respectively. for return trips, the best month to travel is february with an average price of £414., what is the cheapest time of day to fly to beirut, the cheapest time of day to fly to beirut is generally in the evening, when flights cost £447 on average. the most expensive time of day to fly to beirut is generally in the afternoon, which is peak travel time and where the average cost of a ticket is £546., what is a good deal for flights to beirut, if you’re looking for cheap airfare to beirut, 25% of our users found tickets to beirut for the following prices or less: from london heathrow airport £344 one-way - £526 return., how far in advance should i book a flight to beirut, to get a below average price, you should book around 0 weeks before departure. for the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 22 days before departure., how long is the flight to beirut, the duration of your flight to beirut depends on your departure and arrival airports. obviously any flights that include a layover will also be longer. the most popular routes to beirut on kayak are from london , which takes 6h 33m, manchester , which takes 9h 00m, and edinburgh , which takes 13h 50m., how many direct flights to beirut are there each day, there are around 2 direct flights from within united kingdom to beirut every day. most flights depart in the afternoon, with 22:00 the most common departure time and 50% of flights departing in the afternoon., how many direct flights to beirut are there each week, each week there are around 14 direct flights from within united kingdom to beirut. the most common day for departures is wednesday, with 14% of flights taking off on this day., how many long-haul flights are there to beirut each week, there are not any long-haul (6-12 hour flight duration) or short-haul (up to 3 hour flight duration) flights to beirut. instead, there are 14 medium-haul flights (3-6 hour flight duration), with the most arriving from london., how many cities have direct flights to beirut, from the united kingdom, there are direct flights to beirut from 1 city. this city is london and there are 14 direct flights each week., good to know - cheap tickets to beirut, when to book flights to beirut, faqs - booking beirut flights, can i fly direct from the uk to beirut.

UK passengers can find direct flights to Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport from London Heathrow Airport with MEA. On most other Beirut flights from London airports, or from other UK airports, your journey will include at least one layover before you land. For instance, if you fly from UK airports to Beirut with Lufthansa, you will usually change planes at Frankfurt Airport. Meanwhile, flights from Manchester with Air France will stopover at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Flying direct will usually cut around 3-5 hours off your journey compared with non-direct routes.

Do I need a visa to fly to Beirut?

If you’re booked on flights to Beirut, you must make sure you have the correct travel documents to move through immigration when you land. British travellers on short trips to Beirut can usually get a tourist visa on arrival. Make sure you do not overstay after your visa runs out as you may face hefty fines. You must also have a valid UK passport that remains valid for at least three months after your arrival date. UK travellers should also be aware that anyone with an Israeli stamp on their passport may be refused entry to Lebanon.

What hotels are there near Beirut Airport?

With the airport so close to downtown Beirut, there is a wide variety of hotel options within a 10 minutes drive of the airport. If you’re looking for somewhere that offers a shuttle to and from the airport, options include the Lancaster Tamar Hotel, Hotel Albergo or Gefinor Rotana Hotel. If you’re looking for somewhere a little more budget-friendly, the Assaha Hotel is a 15 minutes drive from the airport and the Golden Tulip is within walking distance of the seaside.

Where can I exchange my money for local currency?

You can find currency exchange services at BankMed in the Beirut Airport Arrivals Area, where you can trade your British Pounds for Lebanese Pounds. Alternatively, you can find ATMs located throughout the airport that accept foreign cards. However, it is recommended that you contact your bank before using a foreign ATM to avoid any unnecessary difficulty in using your card. Foreign currency withdrawal at the ATM may also incur further bank fees.

Are there any passenger lounges in Beirut Airport?

There are a number of priority and VIP passenger lounges available, depending on the airline or rewards programme you belong to. However, if you don’t belong to any such programme, you can purchase entry to the Beirut Lounge or the LAT Lounge. Here you can enjoy a buffet of snacks and finger-food, relax in comfortable chairs and wait for your flight, or make the most of the tables and free Wi-Fi to finish any work.

What restaurants are at the Beirut Airport?

If you’re hungry after your flight to Beirut, you can find the full-service restaurant Akle in the arrivals zone. This airport restaurant offers a range of cuisine styles, including Western, Arabic and Lebanese fast-food. Cafe Matik also serves coffee and hot drinks. For those in transit at Beirut Airport, the Japanese seafood bar SALT is on the third floor.

How far is Beirut from central Beirut?

The city centre of Beirut is 5 miles from Beirut.

What is the name of Beirut’s airport?

When flying to Beirut, you'll arrive at Beirut (BEY). The airport is also known as Beirut or Beirut Intl.

How much is a flight to Beirut?

On average, a flight to Beirut costs £470. The cheapest price found on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks cost £285 and departed from London Heathrow Airport.

How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights to Beirut?

KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights to Beirut.

How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket to Beirut?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Beirut is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.

What is the Hacker Fare option on flights to Beirut?

Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Beirut with an airline and back with another airline.

What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight to Beirut?

Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Beirut up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Beirut

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Beirut flight deals.
• Want to reduce your carbon emissions when you fly? Choosing low-carbon routes for flights to Beirut may save you money. For instance, travelling with Lufthansa from London Heathrow Airport can slash your carbon footprint by around 45-50% and is cheaper than routes with other airlines.
• If you’re meeting a connecting flight at Beirut Airport and want to spend some peaceful time at worship, interfaith prayer rooms are available for passengers to use. You can find the prayer rooms on Level 2 in the Departures area above the Duty-Free shops.
• Need medical treatment when you arrive at Beirut Airport? The airport has medical centres located in the east and west Arrivals halls where passengers can receive advice and treatment for minor ailments.
• Beirut’s Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) is Lebanon’s major international airport. It also serves as a gateway to other nearby Lebanese cities, such as Jezzine (37 miles away), Saida (35 miles away), Zahle (44 miles away), Nabatiye (58 miles away) and Tripoli (87 miles away).
• There are no public transport systems that pass by the airport, however there are several taxis stationed just outside the terminal. The trip will take you about 15 minutes.
• If you’re looking for things to do after your flight to Beirut, you can visit the Tourist Information Centre in the Beirut Airport Arrival Hall. Here you can find information on the most popular tourist spots as well as maps and travel advice from the Ministry of Tourism.
• You can find Duty Free shopping across the airport. While the store boasts a luxury zone with the European designer brands such as Dior, Gucci and Montblanc, you can also find local brands such as A. Hallam sweets, the Al-Rifai Coffee Roastery or a range of Lebanese wines.
• If you want to rent a car to help you explore Lebanon, you can find a wide range of car rentals in the arrivals area after passing through immigration and customs. Companies such as Dealers, Hertz, Budget, City Car or Europcar offer a wide fleet of different vehicles to suit any budget.

Prefer to fly direct to Beirut?

Find which airlines fly direct to Beirut, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

United Kingdom to Beirut

Aegean Airlines, Air Arabia, Air Canada, +36 more

Aegean Airlines, Air Arabia, +37 more

Air Arabia, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, Air Canada, +38 more

Air Arabia, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, +39 more

Air Arabia, Air Canada, Air Europa, +36 more

Air Arabia, Air Canada, +37 more

Air Algerie, Air Arabia, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, +36 more

Air Algerie, Air Arabia, +37 more

Aegean Airlines, Air Arabia, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, +37 more

Aegean Airlines, Air Arabia, +38 more

Aegean Airlines, Air Algerie, Air Arabia, +36 more

Aegean Airlines, Air Algerie, +37 more

Direct returns

Beirut to United Kingdom

Top 5 airlines flying to beirut.

No USB to charge the mobile. The seats don’t recline.

At the airport they posted on the board at 12:55 boardind closed instead of boarding slone and we had to run our heart to the gate to find it was a mistake!! It was just starting to board

Mixed boarding: there was no priority line. The lady at the check in didn’t know the different types of silver or gold membership she didn’t put the luggage in priority . They didn’t mention that the coffee will not be served sfter the lunch so i had to argue to have a coffee. ……

More or less was except able flight not much to complain!

The plane is very clean. Food is acceptable given the short trip. Crew is very friendly .

I am Syrian and I travel over 6 times every year but MEA is proofing it deserves all the respect.

Meat should be of a higher quality or else just serve chicken next time its a safer option … Offering meat is fancy only if the meat is great…

At checkin they said we would board at 11:10, in the end there was nothing on the departure screens until 11:45 (for a 12:10) flight, and then the flight ended up being almost an hour late, and it’s not the first time MEA pull that kind of thing…

A321 is a small aircraft so I think the crew did there best from the point where I was sitting!

Wonderful new plane, very helpful and friendly crew, amazing flight entertainment system, and many other great things. Yet, the knefeh meal I had was so dry and poor to an extent that I was about to shoke with a tiny piece of it entering my airways. Apart from this everything was excellent. Thank you MEA & RHIA !

Movie selection was ok, but could be better. Would like to see greater selection of newer movies.

It was a nightmare. I booked business class ticket from Ediburgh to Beirut via Istanbul to attend a funeral. I had a wonderful experience flying to Istanbul from Edinburgh. Then I could not get a boarding pass issued to Beirut. It seems that although they booked me and I had a reservation number, I had no seat allocated and the flight was full. I was asked to go from one desk to another and made to wait for 2 hours. I missed my flight as I did not have a seat assigned and it was full. The only option was to put me on the next flight, 6 hours later, for a fee of over $400. They said that was the best they can do to 'help me' and to 'take it or leave it'. Well, I was not about to be bullied; I stood my ground. I booked and paid premium for the journey, which was confirmed. The eventually accepted to not charge me extra and i waited a total of over 8 hours in the airport with no compensation. On top of my grief with the risk of missing the funeral service, I had to put up with their indifference and condescending attitude. They spoke about me in Turkish thinking I would not understand (I hold a British passport) in front of me. When they eventually handed my passport and boarding pass back to me, I showed them I was born in Istanbul and that I understood everything and said a condescending 'thank you' back to them in Turkish. You should have seen their faces. I said that consumers have rights and it is a shame that Turkish Airlines does not have good customer service to at least acknowledge and apologize for errors committed by the airline. Blaming the me, the client, for such an error and placing unreasonable ultimatums, rudeness and dismissiveness to be rid of me, particularly when I was vulnerable and visibly grieving was really shocking... The airline taints the city of Istanbul and the people of Türkiye. Such a shame.

Just on time arrival and departure would make it great

Paying for reserved seats and never received the seats I paid for !! Just fake and a surprise out of their " box "

A good airline, but at checking in, they allocated seats for my wife, and I far away from each other, and to change them, they wanted a payment, such a bad policy, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth All was good on the plane, good food, but the air hostess was abrupt and a bit rough dealing with the passengers, but one has to find excuses for staff working under pressure

Flight canceled and then “uncanceled” after I booked are placement. I had to pay for both a Turkish Air doesn’t admit their mistake

Process for on line checking needs a lot of improvement. Very frustrating.

Crew announced boarding started and they asked passengers to form a queue. Actual boarding didn’t start and queue was not moving for around 40-50 mins. Very poor management.

Friendly crew. Computer systems had trouble keeping my Star Alliance status linked to my reservation. Inflight Wi-Fi was slow and expensive. No standard power outlet, but medium-power USB-C port slowly charged my laptop. No option to buy whisky in economy.

I found it okay. Did not think the food was that great. And the service could have been better. Seat was a little cramped. Delay getting to Istanbul made me rush all the way across the airport to get to the connection. This was a not good experience.

No Wi-Fi 50% of headphones handed out do not work. Otherwise pleasant.

Very nice staff. organized check in and good food. Bit cramped and tired looking plane inside

Was so surprised that for a short flight we were served a sandwich lunch

I didn’t like anything. I fly about 40 times per year and this is by far the worst airline I’ve even been on.

I had bad experience, this flight from Amman to Detroit was delayed for 40 hours!!!! The staff are rude & the food was not good at all.

I had bad experience, the first flight was delayed for 4 hours & the second flight was delayed for 40 hours!!!!! The staff on the flight from Amman to Detroit are rude . The food was not good at all.

Regarding the boarding: it needs more efforts to make it more convenient

Entertainment content is outdated. Food; I chose the chicken meal with rice, I would like to know the thought process of serving rice and chicken to be eaten with only a fork?! I don't eat spicy food for health reasons, I found out that the rice is very spicy after the first bite, so I didn't eat.

It was operated by Oman Air . So old airplane so dirty and so hot till we were flown We paid a full price for this flight but it’s not acceptable The plane was parked in cargo parking it was very far from the airport

Some entertainment would have been appreciated on a 5 hours+ flight, the aircraft was quite old, even trays kept falling down with each minor turbulence. Meals were also bad.

I was at the airport on time , I checked in my luggage . The plane was delayed and the gate was change. The flight board did not give information . I did not get chance to fly. I am going to make a claim for it

Checking in could not be done in the UK for this prt of the flight . Since we only had an hour and a bit at Singapore it was very stressful not knowing if we had appropriate seats. The flight itself was Ok and the 787 had a bit more legroom than the777 from Munich to Singapore. Food wasn't great.

Never flown with LH before so all in all wasba good experience. Also good to know that approx 24hrs prior the flight opens up for being able to organise the seating free.

It was a short flight, no real service (which is okay). Very bumpy because of weather.

I'm Canaadian. I hate Air Canada. I used to give them a pass on their international service. No longer, They suck across the board now! Old planes, exhausted staff bad food and shitty entertainment. Your seats need reupholstered! Start with that...

Good experience. Food was great and passengers helped rearrange seats so our family could be seated together

Great flight. Left on time, not very crowded. Quiet and the right temperature.

No eye patches , socks given out for overnight flight! The snack on the short haul was a cube of chocolate! The seat was uncomfortable for a long haul - not enough cushioning!

My incoming flight from Rome to Munich was on time. But part of the deplaning process is that we had to take a bus to the terminal. The layover time was too short so me and other passengers that were going to make the Munich to Diussepdorf plane were stressed. We all ran through the terminal and we got there right on time to find out that our plane to Dusseldorf was 15 mins late.

The flight was very good , on time without delays, specially the staff was great!

Pegasus is not a very comfortable airline. They’re not in any way hospitable

It was like moving cattle around. Very abrupt, uncomfortable and not much hospitality

All good but air not give the pasing er any food even glase of water

Flight delayed by 1hr when we already boarded because someone had to get off. Leg room is terrible for 6ft people like me.

I used the airline 5-6 times for the last year and every flight have had perfect timing and I like it. Despite catastrophic absence of space for my legs 😁

The crew was utterly non helping and non courteous.I asked for a water. The air hostess could have said it's paid . She informed me that I will come later after serving but never turned up. The seats were never comfortable.My first and last flight with Pegasus.I am not taking again

The plane left Istanbul 1 hour late and the AC was not really working great it was so hot inside and no air. This was my worst flight in a long time since I had a flight with Ryanair.

Cheap and cheerful. It’s a super cheap, no frills flight. Very professional and as it’s an A320 relatively spacious. Seats do not recline. Happy with the service. You get what you pay for. Can’t complain

I had 4 flights for less than a week and there were no delays and issues. Thanks to the crews and for perfectly organised service.

There is no usb for charging the phone you should provide the water

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Lebanon is a feast for the senses! Our luxury Lebanon holidays are all unique and will introduce you to a green and fertile land with an extraordinarily rich history and natural beauty. Whether you wish to discover vibrant Beirut (a city that was once known as the Paris of the East), sample Lebanon's exquisite cuisine and wine, take a walk back through the ages to the time of the Phoenicians and Crusaders in the pretty fishing village of Byblos, or visit the stunning Roman ruins at Baalbek; a tailor-made Lebanon tour has so much to offer. Corinthian Travel has the expertise, knowledge and contacts to make your luxury Lebanon holidays exceptional experiences. We believe that Lebanon has a fair claim on being called one of the best kept secrets of the Mediterranean. 

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Beirut Sojourn

5 days / 4 nights from £1175 pp, beirut * byblos * sidon * baalbek.

Experience the ‘Paris of the East’. Mezze, ruins, nightlife, and wine tasting all await.

Classic Lebanon

8 days / 7 nights from £2185 pp, byblos * qadisha valley * beirut * tyre * baalbek.

Travel the length of Lebanon discovering its rich history and striking natural beauty.

Lebanon: Off the Beaten Track

9 days / 8 nights from £2595 pp, beirut * byblos * douma * qadisha * aqoura * baalbek * beiteddine * tyre * beaufort * sidon.

An immersive slower paced tour including charming boutique hotels in rural Lebanon.

Lebanon Summer Holiday

9 days / 8 nights from £2095 pp, beirut * baalbek * jeita * byblos * qadisha valley * sidon * tyre.

Combine sightseeing and relaxing by the sea. This gorgeous eastern Mediterranean country comes into its own over the summer months.

Lebanon & Jordan Tour

15 days / 14 nights from £3830 pp, beirut * byblos * sidon * baalbek * jerash * wadi rum * petra * kerak * dead sea.

Combine two of the Near East's most fascinating and intriguing destinations.

Beirut: Eat, Play, Party!!

5 days / 4 nights from £2895 pp, beirut * byblos * jounieh * jiyeh.

A blowout weekend in hedonistic Beirut: luxury hotel, bars, nightclubs, beach club and speedboat transfers!   .

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Cheap round-trip flights to Lebanon

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at £154 for one-way flights and £286 for round trip, for the period specified. Be sure to select the 'Direct flights only' box above if you are looking for a non stop route. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Expedia flights to Lebanon

Searching for cheap flights to Lebanon? No travel company presents more choices than Expedia if you're looking to compare flights to Lebanon. With more airlines, cheaper flights, fewer stops, and more departure and arrival times travellers should ensure they search on Expedia before any holiday to New Hampshire. Expedia provides the cheapest flights to many destinations in New Hampshire and you may find even greater savings if you combine your flight with a hotel stay in Lebanon.

Expedia is the largest online travel agency which means that Expedia have access to cheap flights. So make sure you check Expedia regularly for these bargain flights because the cheapest airline tickets sell out fast.

Expedia is not only free for everyone to use but it quick and easy to use. Find the lowest flight prices guaranteed and book directly through Expedia. Browse through hundreds of cheap flight offers to find the one that suits your budget by simply inputting your travel dates. Expedia will then find the cheapest flights to Lebanon for that period and let you choose your preferred time and airline. If you need additional assistance, Expedia Customer Service representatives are available from 8am - 10pm Monday to Friday, and 9am - 10pm at weekends. Our capable staff will be able to help you with any questions regarding your Lebanon flight, or other booking questions that may arise. When you book flights with Expedia you can rest assured that you have booked the best flight at the lowest price.

Frequently asked questions

• A plane trip can be a stress-free experience if you bring the right things. Firstly, you’ll want some basic toiletries, such as lip balm and hand cream, a fresh set of clothes and something to read. Secondly, find a spot in your bag for your phone and charger, any vital medications and maybe a blow-up neck pillow as well. Lastly, and most importantly, don’t forget to bring your passport, travel docs and your bank cards.
• Double-check that you don’t have sharp objects (like a pocket knife) hiding in one of the compartments of your hand luggage. Other restricted items include flammable or explosive products, such as fuel and matches, and liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).
• The answer to a comfortable flight is as simple as your clothing choices. Prepare yourself for varying temperatures by layering up. This will keep you nice and warm if the cabin begins to cool down. Shoes like high heels and sandals are best left in your checked suitcase. Instead, opt for flat, closed-toed footwear like sneakers. Your feet will thank you for it.
• Unfortunately, one risk of long-haul flights is developing DVT (deep vein thrombosis), a blood clotting condition caused by extended periods of inactivity. To prevent this, make the most of every opportunity to walk around and give your legs a stretch. Compression socks and tights are another easy way to help lower your risk.
• First things first. Your passport and boarding pass will need to be presented to airport security. Have them easily accessible so you don’t have to dig around for them.
• After that, both you and your carry-on bag must be X-rayed. To speed things up, remove anything that is likely to trigger the alarm. Items such as your belt, coat and earphones need to go through the machine.
• All your electronic devices, including your phone and tablet, will also need to be scanned.
• Any gels or liquids, such as shampoo or hand cream, that you want to bring on board must be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters). Also, everything must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), clear zip-lock bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a practical footwear choice as you’re less likely to be required to remove them when going through security. Boots and other bulky shoes are often subjected to additional screening.
• Take all prohibited items out of your carry-on bag. If you have any sharp or pointed objects, put them in your checked suitcase. They won’t be allowed on board.

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Two Options: Obtain Visa at Beirut International airport or Obtain Visa from the Embassy . 1- Obtain Visa at Beirut International airport.

An entry visa to Lebanon will not be issued on Israeli passports or any other passport and travel document stamped with an Israeli visa or seal. Moreover, a Lebanese visa is rendered invalid if an Israeli visa or seal is stamped on the passport.

The following is a list of countries whose citizens can obtain an entry visa upon arrival at Beirut International Airport or any other port of entry if there is no Israeli visa or seal on their passport. Andorra- Antigua and Barbuda- Argentina - Armenia-Australia-Austria-Azerbaijan-Bahamas-Barbados-Belarus-Belgium-Belize-Bhutan-Brazil-Bulgaria-Canada-Chile-China Peoples republic)–Costa Rica-Croatia-Cyprus-Czech republic -Denmark-   Dominican republic-Estonia-Finland-France-Georgia - Germany- United Kingdom of Great Britain -Greece-Holland-Hong Kong(SAR)China-Hungary-Iceland-Ireland-Italy-Japan-Kazakhstan-Iran -Kirgizstan-Latvia-Liechtenstein-Lithuania-Luxembourg- Macau(SAR)-Macedonia-Malaysia-Malte-Mexico-Moldova-Monaco-Montenegro-New Zealand-Norway-Panama - Paraguay -Peru-Poland-Portugal-Romania-Russia- Samoa-San Marino-Serbia -Singapore-Slovakia-Slovenia - S.Korea -Spain-St. Kitts &Nevis -Sweden-Switzerland-Tajikistan-Turkmenistan - Ukraine-Uruguay-U.S.A-Uzbekistan-Venezuela 2- Conditions and requirements for obtaining an entry visa to Lebanon at the Embassy of Lebanon in the United Kingdom :

Remark : Granting a visa to Lebanon for  holder of UK Travel Document for Refugees requires prior approval of the General Directorate of General Security in Lebanon. This procedure takes some time, so the Embassy advises the visa applicants to submit the request   two months at least before the departure date .

A free entry visa is granted for Diplomats and members of International Organizations in Geneva. Please provide two copies of the verbal note.

The personal presence to deposit a visa application at the Embassy is not mandatory. Please download the  visa application form  from the website of the Embassy, fill it and send it to the Embassy's address:  15 Palace Garden Mews, London, W8 4RB , with the following documents: 

*   Original passport valid for at least seven months with a colour photocopy of the pages containing the bearer's identity and the validity of the passport.

*    One  recent coloured passport-sized photo  (4,3 x 3,5 cm) not drawn from another photos, showing full details of the face with a white background .

*    In case of a visa for an underage child, both parents should sign a consent letter authorizing the child to travel .

*   For students’ visa, a certificate from the university/school in Lebanon should be attached to the application.

* For private visits: a reference letter from the person or company to be visited, including their full address and telephone numbers.

* For Housekeepers: copy of sponsor’s passport, and/or accompanying person along with a copy of Work Agreement.

*    A copy of the applicant's Residency.

*   Statement of Account for the last three months-showing enough funds for the visit.  

*   Hotel reservation. 

*   Employment Letter stating the salary and the position. 

*   The amount of the consular fee is paid in cash or by postal order (checks are not accepted) when the visa application is accepted: -    £63.00 Single Entry

      -    £90.00 Two Entries. -    £125.00 Multiple Entries.

 For more details on the procedures of granting visas to Lebanon, please visit the website of the General Directorate of the Lebanese General Security:  http://www.general-security.gov.lb/fr .

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Why Meghan Markle and children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will not travel to the UK with Harry next month

There is one reason keeping the duke of sussex's wife and two children away from the uk.

The Duke of Sussex is reportedly visiting the UK next month, to attend the Invictus Games’ 10th Anniversary Service which will be held on 8 May at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

Although Harry’s appearance is yet to be confirmed, with reports also indicating he may choose to appear via video call, three people that are very unlikely to attend are the Duchess of Sussex and their two children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet .

In A Right Royal Podcast’s latest episode, titled A Right Royal Jam , co-hosts Andrea Caamano and Emmy Griffiths, as well as HELLO!’s royal editor Emily Nash, talk to The Daily Telegraph’ s royal editor, Hannah Furness, about Prince Harry’s possible visit, with Hannah revealing why Meghan and their children will not travel to the UK just yet. Listen below.

LISTEN: The reason why Meghan and her children don't want to visit the UK just yet

Also in the episode, Hannah talks at length about Meghan’s latest venture, her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard , and her company’s first product, which she has sent to fifty of her nearest and dearest, a personalised homemade jar of jam.

“This isn't necessarily what we were led to expect when they first left the royal family. There was a lot of talk about philanthropy. They did all these events not long after they left the UK: Black Lives Matter, gender equality, voting in America, all kinds of topics that are quite serious and quite philanthropic. And that has spun out and sort of quietly disappeared, and in its place, we have this new product range, which will be coming out in the next month or so."

“It’s exciting,” she adds. “The royal beat has become quite difficult this year and quite challenging. It's been quite sad actually, in a lot of ways. So, this is quite a nice boost.”

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During the new episode, co-hosts Andrea and Emmy talk to Emily about Prince Louis’ ‘unedited’ sixth birthday portrait, taken by mum Kate, as well as to colleagues Sophie Hamilton, who travelled to Bucharest with Sarah, Duchess of York , to an orphanage, and Alexandra Hurtado, who interviewed Prince Harry’s best friend Nacho Figueras ahead of their polo match in Florida earlier this month in aid of Sentebale.

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High School Sports | South Bay meets Southern Hospitality: What the…

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Subscriber only, high school sports | south bay meets southern hospitality: what the los gatos baseball team learned from trip to rural tennessee, wildcats take trip to lebanon, tenn., where coach mike minkel played college baseball at cumberland.

Like many baseball teams in the Bay Area, Los Gatos spent a week away from home playing non-league teams. 

But instead of taking on other opponents from the West Coast, the Wildcats traveled down to middle Tennessee, playing unfamiliar programs like Friendship Christian and Overton in a small town called Lebanon.

Located around 45 minutes east of the state capitol in Nashville and a world away from what the South Bay natives were used to, the teenagers grew to appreciate the state where coach Mike Minkel spent his college years.

“They saw a lot of respect for strangers and people you’ve never met before,” said Minkel, who went to Cumberland University in Lebanon. “A lot of time spent holding doors for people and going out of your way to be kind when you don’t have to be.”

Despite Minkel and his assistant coach, Eric Mull, graduating from the NAIA program more than a decade ago, they still have plenty of friends in the area, making it possible to plan games in Tennessee and put together sightseeing excursion with help from locals.

Through fundraising efforts since last summer, the team was able to make a long trip.

Los Gatos won all three games in the Volunteer state, including a 10-5 victory in Nashville over Mookie Betts’ alma mater Overton High. 

They might have been 2,000 miles from temperate Los Gatos, but Brayden Smith and Lucas Carlisle led an offense that looked comfortable in the southeastern humidity. Each junior hit a home run against the Nashville powerhouse, which is 9-1 in league play. 

The 18-3 Wildcats stayed focused between the lines, but their coaches made sure they also had fun on their trip. 

With several of his players both avid country music and college baseball fans, they also enjoyed a day in the genre’s mecca and caught a Vanderbilt game too. 

The Wildcats even got to see the South’s party bus and hot chicken epicenter of Broadway Street, albeit from a distance. 

“They got to see what Broadway looked like at night,” Minkel said, who then laughed and added, “Although obviously, we all stayed in the car and drove them around, because there’s not much you can do walking around there at 16.”

But it wasn’t the baseball or the big events that the coach enjoyed the most – It was a quiet team BBQ on the Cumberland river. 

“They’re out doing their thing, they’re engaged in nature and off of their phones,” Minkel remembered. “It was refreshing to see and be a part of it. It was an instance where I didn’t really want to leave there and do the next thing.” 

He hoped that his team took a new appreciation for that region of the country, and the people who live there, back with them to the South Bay. 

“You take all the politics out of everything, and when you come together and sit down, with us from California and them from Tennessee, we’re all just human beings who care about each other,” Minkel said. 

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My four-day rail and ferry adventure from the UK to Albania

From London to Tirana, via Chambéry’s medieval streets, bustling Bari and Albania’s dynamic capital, this trip across Europe has treats at every turn

M y overriding memories of crossing countries by train, on a trip from London to Albania, are of half-empty carriages and countryside sweeping past windows bathed in the soft orange glow of sunset. I remember cypress trees, red-roofed villages with square churches, farmland in neat strips and row upon row of vineyards.

On my London-Paris-Chambéry-Turin-Bari-Tirana journey over land and sea, there was, for long stretches, little to do. The wifi was patchy. It took a while to adapt to having so much time to simply watch the world go by, travelling through landscapes without having to navigate them.

The biggest stress happened long before I set off, when a landslide not far from the French border with Italy blocked the rail line between Chambéry and Turin, forcing a closure that continues today. Byway, the no-fly operator I had booked with, offered to reroute me through Nice and on to Turin via the Vermenagna valley (with changes in Tende and Cuneo), or book me on the FlixBus service over part of the Mont Blanc massif. I was keen to see Chambéry and the Alps, so I chose the bus.

People seemed surprised when I told them I was travelling overland to Albania. As I gushed about the romance of slow travel by train and sleeper ferry, and my excitement about Tirana, I got comments about being “brave”. I didn’t feel especially brave: all the planning, tickets and hotel bookings were done for me, and friendly help was a WhatsApp call away if needed.

I just had to download the Rail Planner app for my Interrail pass and make sure I was at the right station at the right time (Turin was the biggest challenge: it has four main railway stations and taxis scream between them bearing anxious-looking passengers).

The entire journey took four days. If I did it all again, I’d stay longer in Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot – and remember to buy my Paris Métro ticket from the cafe on the Eurostar.

Day one: London to Chamb éry

First to Paris’s Gare du Nord, then the metro to Gare de Lyon, where I make a beeline for a cafe opposite the station. Noise pervades the pavement tables of Café Terminus, but the cacophony is delightful – an atmospheric place for a citron pressé .

I’m in plenty of time for the train to Chambéry and, excitingly, am on the upper deck. Soon, we break free from the suburbs to trace huge stands of forest. Beyond Lyon begins a ripple of hills, lazy rivers and thickly forested slopes. As evening approaches, it’s all Alpine scenery. I arrive at an almost-empty station and walk to the boutique Hotel des Princes in Chambéry’s old town.

Chambéry has an Italian feel – it was the seat of the House of Savoy before the dynasty moved on to Turin – and its medieval alleys, cathedral and pastel-coloured townhouses are quietly impressive. The 1838 Fontaine des Éléphants sits in the middle of the closest square to the old town, and peeking from the end of every street are the Bauges and Chartreuse mountain ranges. My stay is peaceful and easy.

Day two: Chamb éry to Turin

From Chambéry, the train to Turin would take about 2½ hours, but the bus takes double this. I’m on the top deck again, which is worth it for the sight of misty fingers of early morning light breaking across the mountain ridge. Snoozing backpackers rouse themselves to snap pictures of remote Mont Blanc peaks, before slumbering once more through the tunnel to Italy. In Turin there’s perfume in the air from the blossom-covered trees.

Turin’s grid of long, straight boulevards is testament to its development by the Romans – the redbrick Palatine Gate is another Roman relic – and its grand piazzas, royal palaces and graffitied colonnades date from the city’s Savoy heyday in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, the number one attraction is the Museo Egizio (Egyptian Museum).

My favourite moments? Ricotta and fig ice-cream on Piazza San Carlo, an aperitivo on off-the-beaten-path Via Sant’Agostino and the towering neoclassical Mole Antonelliana (national museum of cinema). I eat Turin’s famous doughy pizza al padellino (pan pizza) and spend a comfortable night in the eaves of Hotel Urbani in 19th-century residential streets close to the grand Porta Nuova train station.

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Day three: Turin to Bari

The views from my next train are of cinematic Tuscan scenes. Scorched fields, vines and Italian cypress trees. Neat red roofs and shabby-chic farmhouses. Fluffy clouds cling to hills that Google Maps tells me are the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. After hours of soothing golden landscapes, the opal-blue Adriatic wallops into view just north of Ancona. Beach bars whip by and cypress trees are replaced with palm trees: I’ve arrived in the south of Italy.

Bari is hands down my favourite stop. The noise, heat and energy as we step off the train in the early evening are joyous. After Chambéry and Turin, Bari feels brash, a little rough around the edges even; a proper port city. The labyrinthine alleyways of the whitewashed old town are almost cliched in their cuteness. Despite the troupes of tightly packed headphone-wearing Americans following guided tours, it somehow manages to retain a tranquil atmosphere.

Old ladies yawn from the shade as tourists surreptitiously snap pictures and laundry flutters from balconies. I could stay for ever, but after 24 hours (which includes a lot of pasta, a stroll along the posh promenade to the not-so-posh city beach and a night in an elegant aparthotel, Residence Zodiacus , halfway between the station and the old town), it’s time to board the night ferry to Albania.

Day (and night) four: Bari to Tirana

I arrive at the ferry on foot and am escorted through the car deck to jokes about going in the wrong direction (to Albania, instead of from it). In the early morning I spot a pink sky through the cracked window of my comfy en suite cabin, and head to the top deck to see the sun rise over the distant outline of Albania. Disembarking in the port of Durrës is a bit of a scrum and there’s a bus to the capital waiting, but I opt instead for a five-minute taxi ride to the centre of town and breakfast of pastries and espresso on a dazzling white road lined with boutiques and palm trees. I later regret this though, as the aircon on the grubby public bus I eventually take to Tirana is more tired than I am, and drops me in an urban sprawl miles from the centre.

Tirana itself is a revelation. My hotel, Padam Boutique , is a grand villa with handsome rooms and floor-to-ceiling windows, and there’s striking new skyward architecture on every nearby street. A short stroll away is the landmark Pyramid of Tirana , which stands as a symbol and monument to change (and is fun to climb at sunset). Skanderbeg Square – a jumble of buildings erected on a roundabout at the time of the celebrations to mark the fall of communism in 1992 – is now a pedestrianised, glossy public space. There are nods to Albania’s recent, wretched history behind the iron curtain, of course – the Bunk’Art and Bunk’Art 2 museums, in nuclear bunkers are unmissable – but Tirana and the country are more than just the last century. My journey is done, but it feels like Tirana is just getting into its stride.

The trip was provided by Byway , which offers sustainable travel and accommodation packages across the UK and Europe. Its Alps to Albania trip costs from £679pp

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Middle East Crisis U.S. Won’t Suspend Aid, for Now, to Israeli Unit Accused of Abuses

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• Israeli police detaining protesters during a demonstration by Israeli and American rabbis near the Erez crossing into Gaza. Reuters
• Palestinian children waiting for a water supply tank in Rafah, southern Gaza. Mohammed Abed/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• Damage in the area of Nabatieh, southern Lebanon. Ramiz Dallah/Anadolu, via Getty Images
• Walking past posters in Tel Aviv of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
• Hanging around the apparent remains of a ballistic missile near the southern Israeli city of Arad. Amir Cohen/Reuters
• Palestinians on a hot day at a beach west of Deir al Balah in southern Gaza. Mohammed Saber/EPA, via Shutterstock

Follow live news updates on the crisis in the Middle East .

Blinken says the U.S. could take action if Israel fails to hold its troops accountable.

The Biden administration, which has been under pressure for its support of Israel’s war in Gaza, will not withhold military aid from a troubled military unit accused of human rights violations in the West Bank, so long as Israel continues with steps to hold the members of the unit accountable.

In an undated letter, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken told the House speaker, Mike Johnson, that the United States was working with Israel to address charges against the unit, the Netzah Yehuda battalion. Though the letter did not mention the battalion’s name, a U.S. official confirmed that Mr. Blinken was referring to Netzah Yehuda, which has been investigated for crimes in the West Bank predating the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack that set off the war in Gaza.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss delicate diplomacy, said that the Biden administration could still take action against Netzah Yehuda if it concludes that Israel has not taken sufficient steps to hold its members to account.

The letter, obtained by The New York Times, said the State Department had determined that Netzah Yehuda had committed “gross human rights violations” against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

U.S. officials had reached similar findings about two other Israeli military units and two civilian units, the letter said, but in those cases the Biden administration had decided not to withhold military aid because Israel was already acting to “bring to justice” culpable service members.

Mr. Blinken assured Mr. Johnson in the letter, reported earlier by ABC News , that the United States “will not delay the delivery of any U.S. assistance, and Israel will be able to receive the full amount appropriated by Congress.”

Under federal statutes commonly known as the Leahy law , the U.S. government must deny aid to foreign military units found to have committed gross violations of human rights without accountability. The law allows for the targeting of individual units without cutting off entire foreign militaries.

It was not clear what practical effect any such move might have, given that funding of specific Israeli units is hard to track, and it is unclear whether the units mentioned in the letter receive American training or equipment.

Still, the news last week that U.S. officials were considering withholding aid from Israeli military units for abuses prompted a furious response from Israel and from Mr. Johnson, a strong supporter of the current Israeli government. Mr. Johnson said this week that he had called the White House in protest and had received an assurance in writing that none of the billions in additional U.S. aid to Israel approved by Congress this week would be affected.

The Biden administration has faced growing calls to restrict American aid to Israel over its military offensive in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attacks in October. President Biden so far has declined to place conditions on U.S. aid over Israel’s devastating tactics in the Gaza war, though he has taken several steps in response to violence by Israelis in the West Bank, including placing sanctions against several Israeli settlers for what the U.S. has called “extremist” acts of violence against Palestinians.

In his letter to the Republican House speaker, Mr. Blinken said that two Israeli battalions and “civilian authority units,” none of which he named, had committed human rights abuses but that he had “determined that the Israeli government has conducted effective remediation of the units involved.” He defined remediation as a process in which a foreign government takes “effective steps to bring to justice the responsible members of the unit.”

In the case of Netzah Yehuda, which he did not cite by name, he said that “there has not been effective remediation to date” but that the Israeli government “has presented new information regarding the status of the unit, and we will engage on identifying a path to effective remediation for this unit.”

Mr. Blinken is planning to travel to Israel next week for meetings with Israeli leaders to discuss efforts to free hostages from Gaza and an impending Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israeli official said on Friday. It was not immediately clear whether he would discuss Netzah Yehuda. Mr. Blinken has discussed the matter by phone with senior Israeli officials in recent days.

Under the terms of a 10-year security agreement that the United States and Israel reached in 2016, the United States must consult with Israeli officials before placing restrictions on security assistance. That consultation is ongoing, according to the U.S. official.

Netzah Yehuda, which was created to accommodate the religious practices of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community, has been repeatedly accused of mistreating Palestinians.

In January 2022, according to witnesses, its soldiers bound and gagged a 78-year-old Palestinian American who died of a heart attack while in military custody. An investigation concluded that the two soldiers who bound the man thought he was sleeping. The soldiers faced disciplinary action but no criminal charges were brought.

The unit was transferred in 2022 from the West Bank to the Golan Heights in northern Israel, according to Mr. Blinken’s letter.

Mr. Blinken added that no other Israeli units had been found culpable of rights violations under the Leahy Law and that the administration’s deliberations “will have no impact on our support for Israel’s ability to defend itself against Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah or other threats.”

— Michael Crowley reporting from Washington

Blinken will make another wartime trip to Israel.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will visit Israel next week, an Israeli official said on Friday, as talks on a cease-fire deal that would allow for the release of hostages held in Gaza appear stalled and tensions have risen between Israel and the United States over the war.

The Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of lack of authorization to speak publicly on the matter, said talks with Mr. Blinken would center on hostages and an impending Israeli military operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Mr. Blinken last visited Israel in March, when he warned that its plans to invade Rafah , where more than a million displaced people are sheltering, would pose severe risks to civilians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with those plans, saying that such an operation is necessary to eliminate Hamas battalions in the city.

Still, the Biden administration has stuck by Israel as mediators have failed to broker even a temporary cease-fire in Gaza that would give Palestinians some respite and allow for the release of hostages abducted in the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel .

The United States has proposed a deal through Egyptian and Qatari intermediaries in which Hamas would release 40 of the most vulnerable hostages in exchange for a six-week truce and the release of hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. A senior Biden administration official who briefed reporters on Thursday on condition of anonymity under official ground rules put the blame solely on Hamas for blocking the deal.

The official said that while Israel had signaled it would accept those terms, the response from Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader hiding underground in Gaza, had been “totally nonconstructive.” Hamas has since signaled that it is not completely rejecting the deal and is willing to sit down again, the official said, adding that the United States and its partners would test that in coming days.

President Biden and the leaders of 17 other nations called on Hamas on Thursday to release all the hostages in a joint statement that appeared intended to send the message that the world is not entirely against Israel and that Hamas is the main impediment to ending the war.

Peter Baker contributed reporting from Washington.

— Patrick Kingsley reporting from Jerusalem

Israel fires into Lebanon after a deadly Hezbollah missile strike.

An Israeli man was killed in an anti-tank missile attack from Lebanon, the Israeli military said on Friday, the latest in a growing string of civilian casualties on both sides of Israel’s northern border as tit-for-tat strikes intensify with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah .

The Israeli military said in a statement that the man had been carrying out “infrastructure work” when two anti-tank missiles were fired late Thursday into the area of Har Dov in northern Israel, a disputed sliver of land where Israel, Lebanon and Syria meet. Also known as the Shebaa Farms, the area is claimed by Lebanon but occupied by Israel, and has long been a crucible for violence.

Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful regional proxy , described the overnight attack as an “ambush,” claiming that two vehicles had been destroyed in a combined missile, artillery and rocket assault on an Israeli military base in the area. The Israeli military statement did not say whether a base had been hit.

Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster, identified the man killed as Sharif Suwayed, 35, and said that his truck had been hit while he was working to improve defenses at a military base, modifications that were being carried out at night to protect against Hezbollah attacks. The Israeli military was investigating, the broadcaster reported.

Israeli forces responded by striking Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon, among them a weapon storage facility and military compound, according to a military statement. Lebanese state media reported on Friday that multiple towns had been targeted by heavy Israeli bombardment, damaging dozens of houses. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, the heaviest between the sides in nearly two decades, has shown no sign of subsiding. Israeli strikes inside Lebanon have begun to creep deeper into the country’s interior, though the hostilities for now have been confined largely to areas along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

In Israel, 19 soldiers and civilians have been killed in the recent violence, which began after Hezbollah launched rockets into northern Israel in support of the deadly Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7.

More than 70 civilians have been killed in Lebanon, along with roughly 270 Hezbollah fighters, the group has said, a figure that exceeds its losses in the 2006 war with Israel .

Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister, said this week that its strikes had eliminated half of Hezbollah’s commanders in southern Lebanon, although experts expressed skepticism about that claim . They also have cast doubt on whether targeted killings of commanders could achieve Israel’s goal of pushing Hezbollah farther from the border, reducing the threat of attacks and allowing the tens of thousands of Israeli civilians displaced by the fighting to return to their homes.

Patrick Kingsley contributed reporting from Jerusalem.

— Euan Ward Reporting from Beirut, Lebanon

A baby born in Gaza after her mother was killed in an Israeli strike dies less than a week later.

A baby who was delivered through an emergency cesarean section after her mother was killed in an Israeli strike died on Thursday, a relative said, less than a week after news of her birth brought a glimmer of hope to war-torn Gaza.

The baby, who was born prematurely after a strike in southern Gaza that also killed her father and sister, suffered respiratory problems, and doctors were unable to save her, said her uncle, Rami al-Sheikh.

“I buried her in her father’s grave,” he said in a phone interview on Friday.

The mother, Sabreen al-Sakani, was killed along with her husband, Shukri, and their 3-year-old daughter, Malak, when an Israeli strike hit their home in the city of Rafah shortly before midnight last Saturday. Rescue crews took the bodies to the Emirati Hospital in Rafah, where doctors performed a cesarean section on Ms. al-Sakani, who was 30 weeks pregnant.

The girls’ uncle said that Malak had wanted to name her little sister Rouh, the Arabic word for soul. The extended family decided instead to name her after her mother, Sabreen.

Sabreen weighed just three pounds at birth, said Dr. Mohammed Salama, head of the neonatal intensive care unit at Emirati Hospital. Her birth was captured on video by a journalist from the Reuters news agency, who filmed doctors providing artificial respiration to her after she emerged, pale and limp, from her mother.

Instead of a name, doctors initially wrote, “The baby of the martyr Sabreen al-Sakani” on a piece of tape across her chest.

“The baby was delivered into a tragic situation,” Dr. Salama told Reuters, adding, “Even if this baby survives, she was born an orphan.”

— Hiba Yazbek Reporting from Jerusalem

Drone attack kills 4 workers in an Iraqi gas field, but no one claims responsibility.

A drone attack on a large gas field in Iraq’s Kurdistan region killed four workers and plunged much of eastern Kurdistan into darkness because it relies on gas to fuel its electrical plants, according to a Kurdistan regional government spokesman.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. While Iranian-backed armed groups have bases in the area, there are many competing interests in Kurdistan, leaving it unclear whether the attacks are part of the larger regional fight between Iran and Israel, which has intensified during the war in Gaza.

The Kurdistan region’s president, Nechirvan Barzani, condemned the attack and called on the government in Baghdad to investigate. “These attacks endanger the peace and stability of the country,” Mr. Barzani said, adding, “The representatives of the Iraqi federal government must do their duty to prevent these attacks and find the perpetrators from any side and punish them according to the law.”

Iraq’s joint command in Baghdad issued a statement calling the attack “sabotage,” confirming that a drone was used. The statement said Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani had ordered an investigation.

Friday’s drone attack was the second so far this year on the Khor Mor field in Sulaymaniyah Province. The last one, in January, did not inflict casualties.

“Four Yemeni workers have been killed, and the field has been severely damaged, which will cause electricity shortages,” said Peshawa Hawramani, a spokesman for the Kurdistan regional government.

Almost a million people in Sulaymaniyah Province were left without power, along with thousands more in adjacent provinces. It took about 24 hours to restore electricity after the last attack, but because the damage was greater this time, Kurdish authorities said it could take longer. While hospitals and security services have large generators, many ordinary residents have access only to limited power from shared generators.

Claims of responsibility were never made for previous attacks on the gas field, which is operated by Dana Gas, based in the United Arab Emirates, and a related company, Crescent Petroleum.

While the drone attack could stem from the regional conflict between Iran and Israel, there are other tensions in the region — between internal Iraqi factions and between Baghdad and Kurdistan. There has been a multiyear effort by the Iraqi federal government in Baghdad and the courts to reduce the Kurdistan region’s control over its natural resources.

At the same time, there is tension between Iran and Iraq over any efforts by Iraq to expand domestic gas production. Iran sells about $4 billion of gas to Iraq each year because Iraq does not have enough gas to fuel its electricity plants. Kurdistan and the Iraqi government had been discussing expansion of the Khor Mor field.

Kamil Kakol contributed reporting from Sulaymaniyah Province, Iraq .

— Alissa J. Rubin Reporting from Baghdad

Rabbis are arrested near the Gaza-Israel border at a rally to highlight starvation.

Police arrest group of rabbis and activists near gaza, the israeli police arrested rabbis and peace activists near the border with gaza..

[singing] You can arrest us, but we’re going to walk slowly, our way towards the crossing.

Seven rabbis and peace activists were arrested on Friday near the border with Gaza after they tried to take food supplies into the territory, according to two participants and the campaign group that organized the effort.

The detainees were among a group of roughly 30 rabbis and activists from Israel and the United States who were stopped by police officers as they tried to reach the Erez crossing, a major transit point between Israel and northern Gaza.

Organized by Rabbis for Ceasefire, a peace movement based in the United States, the effort was intended to build support for a truce and to highlight rising reports of starvation in Gaza . A global authority on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, has predicted an imminent famine in northern Gaza, the area of the territory closest to Erez.

The protest was timed to coincide with the week of Passover , a Jewish festival that celebrates the biblical story of the liberation of Jews from slavery in ancient Egypt.

“We were making the point that Jewish liberation is bound up with Palestinian liberation, that we want freedom for all,” said Toba Spitzer, a rabbi from Boston who attended the protest but was not arrested.

The group had tried to drive into Gaza with a pickup truck carrying half a ton of rice and flour but was stopped roughly a third of a mile from the border, Rabbi Spitzer said. The effort was largely symbolic and the organizers expected it to fail given the restrictions along the border; the supplies will now be donated to needy Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Rabbi Spitzer said.

The Israeli police did not respond to requests for comment.

The author Ayelet Waldman of Berkeley, Calif., was among those arrested, her husband, the author Michael Chabon, said on Instagram .

There are widespread food shortages in Gaza. Israeli restrictions on where convoys can enter the strip, Israeli bombardment and widespread damage to roads, the collapse of Gazan agriculture, and a breakdown in law and order have all made it harder to distribute aid safely.

Aid groups and United Nations officials have accused Israel of systematically limiting aid delivery. Israel denies the assertion, blaming the shortages on logistical failures by aid groups, and has recently increased the number of trucks entering the strip.

Israeli officials say that the Erez crossing, which was primarily used for pedestrian traffic before the war, is difficult to use for aid delivery because it lacks the right infrastructure and was also badly damaged during the Hamas-led raid on Israel in October.

A majority of Jewish Israelis oppose the delivery of more aid to Gaza, according to a poll conducted in February by the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based research group.

Israeli protesters regularly gather at another crossing point farther south, trying to block aid convoys entering Gaza .

— Patrick Kingsley and Rawan Sheikh Ahmad Reporting from Jerusalem and from Haifa, Israel

The U.S. Army has begun work on a floating pier to move aid from ships into Gaza, the Pentagon says.

Army engineers on Thursday began construction of a floating pier and causeway for humanitarian aid off the coast of Gaza, which, when completed, could help relief workers deliver as many as two million meals a day for the enclave’s residents, Defense Department officials said.

The construction on the “initial stages of the temporary pier and causeway at sea” means that the project’s timing is in line with what Pentagon officials had predicted, Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Defense Department’s press secretary, said. The construction is meant to allow humanitarian aid to bypass Israeli restrictions on land convoys into the besieged strip.

General Ryder said that defense officials expected the project, ordered up by President Biden early last month, to be completed early next month. The facility is meant to include an offshore platform to transfer aid from ships, and a floating pier to bring the aid to shore.

Aid organizations have welcomed the plan, which will be an addition to the airdrops of humanitarian supplies that the U.S. military has been conducting over Gaza. But aid workers say, and defense officials have acknowledged, that the maritime project is not an adequate substitute for land convoys. Such aid convoys fell sharply when the war began more than six months ago and have only partly recovered .

Some U.S. military officials have also privately expressed security concerns about the project, and General Ryder said that the military was looking into a mortar attack on Wednesday that caused minimal damage in the area where some pier work is supposed to be done. However, he said, U.S. forces had not started moving anything into the area at the time of the mortar attacks.

The floating pier is being built alongside an Army ship off the Gaza coast. Army ships are large, lumbering vessels, so they have armed escorts, particularly as they get within range of Gaza’s coast, defense officials have said.

The United Nations says famine is likely to set in within Gaza by the end of May.

Aid workers have described bottlenecks for aid at border crossings because of lengthy inspections of trucks, limited crossing hours and protests by Israelis, and they have highlighted the difficulty of distributing aid inside Gaza. Israeli officials have denied that they are hampering the flow of aid, saying the United Nations and aid groups are responsible for any backlogs.

Senior Biden administration and military officials detailed a complex plan in a Pentagon call with reporters on Thursday afternoon, explaining how the pier and causeway are being put together, and how it is supposed to work. Army engineers are constructing the facility aboard Navy ships in the eastern Mediterranean. One official said that the “at-sea assembly of key pieces” of the pier began on Thursday.

Biden officials are insistent that the Pentagon can carry out aid deliveries through the floating pier without putting American boots on the ground in Gaza. Officials described a complicated shuttle system, through which aid would be loaded onto Navy ships in Cyprus and transported to a causeway — a floating platform — at sea.

The Pentagon’s military acronym for the project is J-Lots, for Joint Logistics Over the Shore.

The causeway at sea is different from the floating pier where the aid will be offloaded into Gaza. An engineering unit with the Israeli military will anchor the floating pier to the Gaza shore, a senior military official told reporters in the Pentagon call.

Shuttle boats run by aid organizations, the United Nations or other countries are then expected to transport the aid to the floating pier, where it is to be loaded onto trucks driven by “a third party,” the official said. He declined to identify the third party.

The official said that Israel was dedicating a brigade to provide security for the American troops and aid workers working on the pier.

The operation is expected to bring in enough aid for around 90 trucks a day, a number that will increase to 150 trucks a day when the system reaches full operating capacity, the official said.

— Helene Cooper Reporting from Washington

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International Edition

Israel’s war on Gaza updates: Hamas says reviewing new Israeli proposal

Official Khalil al-Hayya gave no details of offer, as Israeli FM says Rafah invasion to be ‘suspended’ if deal reached.

This live page is now closed. You can continue to follow our coverage of the war in Gaza here .

• Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya says the group is reviewing a new Israeli truce proposal, as Israeli FM Katz says Rafah invasion would be “suspended” if a prisoner swap deal is reached.
• At least seven people were killed and others injured when the Israeli army bombed a home in southern Gaza’s Rafah, Palestinian news agency Wafa reports, citing local and medical sources.
• Hamas’s military wing has published a video of two Israeli captives held in Gaza, showing footage of them calling on PM Netanyahu’s government to make a deal to secure their release.
• Growing student protests in the United States against the war on Gaza and universities’ ties with Israel have spread into Europe and beyond.
• At least 34,388 Palestinians have been killed and 77,437 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.

That’s a wrap from us

Thank you for joining us for updates on everything related to Israel’s war on Gaza.

For more news, analysis and opinion on the conflict, click  here .

A look at what happened today

We will be closing this live page soon. Here’s a quick recap from today:

• US news site Axios, citing two Israeli officials, reported that a new Israeli proposal for a possible deal with Hamas included a willingness to discuss the “restoration of sustainable calm” in Gaza.
• Israeli FM Katz said the Rafah invasion would be “suspended” if a prisoner swap deal is reached.
• Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported that 30 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Israel.
• An Israeli strike in Srebbine, southern Lebanon, destroyed a house and injured 14 civilians, two of them seriously, according to Al Jazeera’s reporter.
• Student protests  in the United States against the  war on Gaza and universities’ ties with Israel continued.
• Students at Columbia released their five demands from the US university, including a demand to divest from companies that aid the Israeli government and another to sever ties to Israeli universities.
• Some senior US officials advised Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they do not find “credible or reliable” Israel’s assurances that it is using US-supplied weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law, according to an internal State Department memo reviewed by Reuters.
• Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers in residential areas in the occupied West Bank.
• Hamas’s military wing released a video of two Israeli captives demanding the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach an exchange deal.
• At least seven people were killed in an Israeli army attack on a home in Rafah, Wafa reported.
• A flotilla hoping to deliver aid to Gaza was blocked in Turkey after the West African country of Guinea-Bissau withdrew its flagged vessels.
• Muqtada al-Sadr, an influential Shia Muslim leader in Iraq, expressed his support for the pro-Palestinian encampments at universities in the United States.

WATCH: A 74-year-old Palestinian activist spends six months in Israeli jail

Omar Assaf has just been released from an Israeli prison after six months in custody.

Our cameras caught him reuniting with his family and a little bit of his story.

Watch our video for more: 

‘We’re living this war in all aspects of life’

Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary was one of the signatories of the letter calling on US White House journalists to boycott the correspondent’s dinner.

She spoke to us from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. Here is what she said:

I don’t have the words to describe what I have been going through since October 7.

This is not something that has been ending. It has been continuous every single day for more than 200 days. We have been killed, displaced and homeless, and we’re not only reporting on this, but we’re also living it with every single detail.

We’re living this war in all aspects of life. We have not seen our families as journalists. We have not been able to eat well. We have been dehydrated.

We have been reporting in one of the harshest conditions any reporter can go through despite losing a lot of colleagues, and it hurts our souls and our hearts every single day.

We have been constantly targeted by the Israeli air strikes and shelling.

All of these daily things we have been living as journalists are overwhelming [and] exhausting, but we still continue because there have been at least 100 Palestinian journalists whom I personally know that have been killed since October 7.

If they were here today with us, they would be reporting, and they would be raising the voice of the voiceless Palestinians.

Pro-Palestine protesters arrested at Indiana University

The Indiana University police department in Bloomington, United States, says that 23 protesters have been arrested.

Indiana State Police and Indiana University police told pro-Palestinian protesters they could not pitch tents and camp on campus.

When the tents were not removed, police arrested and transported protesters to the Monroe County Justice Center on charges of criminal trespass and resisting arrest.

A police statement read, “The Indiana University Police Department continues to support peaceful protests on campus that follow university policy.”

Protesters shout, ‘Shame on you’, outside White House correspondents dinner

Reporting from Washington DC, US

It’s astonishing. We’ve never seen a White House correspondent’s dinner like this.

At the Washington Hilton, the president is here to speak while being warmly applauded by the national US press core.

But these VIPs are all dressed up in the evening finery, and they have to run the gauntlet of hundreds of protesters out here who are shouting, “Shame on you”.

“Shame on you” for breaking bread when there are 140 journalists dead as a result of, as far as they say, Biden’s complicity in their murder.

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon at northern Israel

Al Jazeera’s correspondent reports that 30 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Israel.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that rockets were fired from Lebanon towards the Meron area, which is located in northern Israel.

Israeli media and platforms broadcast scenes showing explosions over the area.

As we have reported, there were several exchanges of fire across the Lebanon-Israel border on Saturday.

An Israeli strike in Srebbine, southern Lebanon, destroyed a house and injured 14 civilians, two of them seriously.

Since October 8 , the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and the Israeli military have traded fire regularly.

You can read our in-depth analysis of these cross-border attacks here .

Photos: Day 10 of pro-Palestine protest at Columbia University

Students continue to occupy an encampment at Columbia University’s campus in New York.

They have been protesting the university’s investments in Israel and showing their support for Palestine for almost two weeks – inspiring other students across the nation to do the same.

Prominent US activist expresses support for campus pro-Palestine protests

Linda Sarsour tells Al Jazeera that she is “extremely inspired and encouraged by these young people all across this country”.

Sarsour, who is of Palestinian descent, was visiting the protest at Princeton University where students, as they are on campuses across the country, are protesting in support of Palestinians, as well as against their institutions’ investments in Israel.

“These young people are reaffirming and demonstrating that the tide is shifting on Palestine, that the Palestinian people have solidarity not just across the United States of America, but across the world,” she said.

When asked why no major university presidents are supporting the students in their protests, she said that the institutions “are beholden to their donors, instead of being loyal to their students”.

Police staying away from Emory University after Thursday’s violent scenes

Reporting from Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Over the last hour or so, the number [of protesters has] steadily been growing. At the moment, it’s probably more of a gathering than a protest.

But this is very much a peaceful affair, and that’s been very much what the organisers have been selling it as on social media. [They say] come along, bring a blanket, bring some food, bring something to drink, sit on the ground, make some posters, write some slogans on the floor with chalk, just show your solidarity through peaceful motives.

There’s also a significant lack of police here. The occasional officer walks by, but compared to Thursday, when we saw those scenes and those mass arrests, the police are very much staying away.

The president of this university is coming under increasing pressure because he is the man who said that the police were right to be here on Thursday when we saw those violent arrests . Yesterday, one of the faculties here held a motion to hold a vote of no confidence in him.

Israeli truce proposal includes possibility of ‘restoration of sustainable calm’ in Gaza: Report

US news site Axios, citing two Israeli officials, reports that a new Israeli proposal for a possible deal with Hamas includes a willingness to discuss the “restoration of sustainable calm” in Gaza after an initial release of captives on humanitarian grounds.

According to Axios, the Israeli officials said the new proposal was formulated jointly by the Egyptian intelligence delegation and the Israeli negotiations team.

The new proposal is reported to offer a response to several of Hamas’s demands, including a willingness to allow the full return of displaced Palestinians to their homes in northern Gaza and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Netzarim Corridor, which splits the north of Gaza from the rest of the enclave.

Axios states that “the proposal also includes a willingness to discuss the establishment of a sustainable ceasefire as part of the implementation of the second phase of the deal”, which would take place after the release of the Israeli captives on humanitarian grounds.

This would mark the first time since Israel began its war on Gaza that Israeli leaders have shown an openness to discussing an end to the war as part of a deal to release the captives.

WATCH: Aid ship delayed as Israel creates ‘administrative roadblock’

A flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Gaza has been blocked in Turkey after the West African country of Guinea-Bissau withdrew its flagged vessels.

“Sadly, Guinea-Bissau has allowed itself to become complicit in Israel’s deliberate starvation, illegal siege and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza,” said the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

Watch our video to learn more:

491 Palestinians killed in West Bank since Oct 7: Ministry

The Palestinian Authority (PA) Ministry of Health has said that the number includes 123 children, five women, five elderly people and 10 detainees in Israeli prisons.

Earlier today, we reported that Israeli troops killed two men, ages 20 and 21, in Jenin, and injured two others moderately, according to medics at Jenin’s government hospital.

Palestinian journalists call for boycott of White House correspondents dinner

More than two dozen Palestinian journalists have called for a boycott of the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, which annually brings reporters, politicians and a glitzy array of celebrities together.

With President Joe Biden heading a long list of VIP guests, Palestinian journalists penned an open letter urging their American colleagues not to attend the dinner.

“You have a unique responsibility to speak truth to power and uphold journalistic integrity,” said the letter. “It is unacceptable to stay silent out of fear or professional concern while journalists in Gaza continue to be detained, tortured, and killed for doing our jobs.”

According to the New York-based Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), at least 97 journalists – including 92 Palestinians – have been killed since October 7. At least 16 others have been wounded.

In addition to the boycott call, an antiwar coalition is planning a demonstration not far from the Washington Hilton hotel where the dinner will take place.

The antiwar group Code Pink, part of the coalition, said it planned to “shut down” the dinner to protest “the complicity of the Biden administration in the targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli military”.

Four US state depts raise concerns in internal memo that Israel may be violating international law in Gaza

Some senior US officials have advised Secretary of State Antony Blinken that they do not find “credible or reliable” Israel’s assurances that it is using US-supplied weapons in accordance with international humanitarian law, according to an internal State Department memo reviewed by Reuters.

Under a National Security Memorandum (NSM) issued by President Joe Biden in February, Blinken must report to Congress by May 8 whether he finds credible Israel’s assurances that its use of US weapons does not violate US or international law.

By March 24, at least seven State Department bureaus had sent their contributions to an initial “options memo” to Blinken.

“Some components in the department favoured accepting Israel’s assurances, some favoured rejecting them, and some took no position,” an unnamed US official quoted by Reuters said.

A joint submission from four bureaus raised “serious concern over non-compliance” with international humanitarian law during Israel’s prosecution of the war on Gaza .

The assessment from the four bureaus said Israel’s assurances were “neither credible nor reliable.” It cited eight examples of Israeli military actions that the officials said raise “serious questions” about potential violations of international humanitarian law.

These included repeatedly striking protected sites and civilian infrastructure; “unconscionably high levels of civilian harm to military advantage”; taking little action to investigate violations or to hold to account those responsible for significant civilian harm and “killing humanitarian workers and journalists at an unprecedented rate”.

Protests in Israel constant reminder to the gov’t that it remains very unpopular

Reporting from Tel Aviv, Israel

There were perhaps as many as 30,000 people earlier on, both here outside the Defence Ministry and in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Modern Art, where the families of the captives gather every night.

These protests are gathering momentum. They have been here since long before October 7. I was here this time last year as people protested against the government and its attempts to change the way judges were appointed to the Supreme Court.

They picked up again in recent months as people called for an end to the war in Gaza and the resignation of the government, particularly [Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu.

Many of the protesters here saying that Netanyahu is deliberately prolonging this war in Gaza, because it saves him from the ultimate reckoning at the ballot box.

The difference this year from last year is that there’s a more mixed crowd because many people have lost faith and Benjamin Netanyahu.

All the polls say that if there’s a new election, then he will almost certainly lose.

Israeli army says it hopes Gaza aid pier ready by early May

The Israeli army has said it hopes a pier to deliver aid to Gaza will be ready by early May, as it pushes ahead with its war on the besieged coastal enclave.

“We will be working with our partners on this endeavour … in the upcoming weeks, hopefully to make it fully functional early May,” Israeli army spokesperson Nadav Shoshani told an online press briefing on Saturday.

Shoshani said, “There will be no American boots on the ground, so once the aid gets to the land, the international organisations are going to be the ones carrying them out.”

Plans for the pier were first announced by US President Joe Biden in early March as Israel continues to hold up aid deliveries by land.

UN agencies have said maritime deliveries alone cannot deliver sufficient aid to ward off the threat of famine and have called on Israel to open up more border crossings for road convoys.

Hamas reviewing Israeli proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya has given no details of Israel’s offer, but said it was in response to a Hamas proposal two weeks ago.

Negotiations earlier this month centred on a six-week ceasefire proposal and the release of 40 captives in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

A separate Hamas statement said leaders from three main factions active in Gaza discussed attempts to end the war. It didn’t mention the Israeli proposal.

The statements came hours after an Egyptian delegation wrapped up a visit to Israel.

Egypt has cautioned that an offensive into Rafah could have “catastrophic consequences” on the humanitarian situation in Gaza as well as on regional peace and security.

Israeli fighter jets target Hezbollah infrastructure: Israeli military

We reported earlier on an exchange of fire between Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and the Israeli military in the north of Israel.

The Israeli military now says that its fighter jets struck Hezbollah infrastructure in the areas of Markaba and Srebbine in southern Lebanon.

Al Jazeera’s correspondent, Zeina Khodr, reports that the strike in Srebbine destroyed a house and that 14 civilians were injured, two of them seriously.

Husam Zomlot, Jeremy Corbyn lead pro-Palestine protest in London

The official account of the Palestinian Mission to the UK has posted a picture of Husam Zomlot, Palestine’s ambassador to the UK, leading a protest in London.

Also pictured is Jeremy Corbyn , the former leader of the UK Labour Party and vocal critic of Israel’s war on Gaza.

#HappeningNow : Ambassador @hzomlot leading the massive protest in London to demand an end to the Israeli genocide in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/oHPECFV7fC — Palestine in the UK (@PalMissionUK) April 27, 2024

Injuries after Israel bombs town in southern Lebanon

According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, nine were injured in an Israeli raid on the town of Srebbine in the south of the country.

The Israeli raid targeted a house in the southern Lebanese town of Srebbine. NNA said one person was injured critically and that among the wounded were two Syrian citizens.

Police say they will not interfere in peaceful protests at George Washington University

It’s noisy at the moment. Several organisers have been speaking at a news conference, making clear their intent not to vacate this area.

At the moment, there are a little more than 100 students encamped in what is called University Square.

Unlike what is happening at other universities like Princeton, this is a public university, so effectively, this is all public space.

University administrators and the police are well aware of this. Administrators did ask the police to come in 24 hours ago and remove tents.

However, Washington, DC police declined to do so. They insisted that the demonstrations were peaceful and that they would not interfere as long as they remained so.

Now, some of the students have told us that the university is using retaliatory methods. It has suspended a number of the students who have been demonstrating. The university identifies them when they leave the square behind me and go into one of the adjoining buildings to use a bathroom, for example, and as they would need to log in to the system. They have then been identified by that login.

However, the students insist they will remain here. The police maintain that their job is to stand here and observe and take no action while these demonstrations remain peaceful.

Blinken set to travel to Saudi Arabia to discuss Gaza, regional security

The US State Department says that the secretary of state will make the visit on Monday and Tuesday to meet regional partners and discuss efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

The State Department said in a statement, “[Blinken] will discuss the recent increase in humanitarian assistance being delivered to Gaza and underscore the importance of ensuring that increase is sustained.”

“The Secretary will also emphasize the importance of preventing the conflict from spreading and discuss ongoing efforts to achieve lasting peace and security in the region, including through a pathway to an independent Palestinian state with security guarantees for Israel,” it added.

Israeli foreign minister says deal would defer Rafah operation

Israel’s foreign minister says that a planned incursion into the city of Rafah could be suspended should there be a deal to secure the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas.

“The release of the hostages is the top priority for us,” said Foreign Minister Israel Katz during an interview with Israeli broadcaster Channel 12.

Asked if that included putting off a planned operation that would target Hamas battalions in the city of Rafah, Katz answered, “Yes.”

He went on to say: “If there will be a deal, we will suspend the operation.”

Israel’s allies, the United Nations and major NGOs have urged Israel not to invade the southern Gaza Strip city, in which hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are currently sheltering.

Princeton protestors won’t leave until the university divests from Israel

Reporting from Princeton, New Jersey, United States

This is day three at Princeton University, and these students are walking a fine line.

The university has said that they are not allowed to sleep here, so they have been coming in shifts to continually occupy this space for these past three days.

On Thursday, the first day, when a couple of them put up a tent, police came in and arrested them. So that’s the line they have to walk.

I talked to a history professor and he was saying there was a bit of irony here that this university is instilling values in the students and then punishing them for practising those values.

These students have decided to take their stand on this issue: They’re demanding divestment from the university from anything invested in Israel or in the war on Gaza, and they say they’ll stay here until they get what they asked for.