Applications for Israel tours for summer 2024 are being postponed in the wake of October 7 to ensure the safety and security of participants.

The decision to delay the launch of applications for tours, which had been scheduled for November, was made by UJIA Israel Experience as it navigated “the additional logistical, security and insurance components of this summer’s programming”, said organisers.

They said they would provide an update at the end of January when they hoped to have a clearer timeline.

In a statement, UJIA Israel Experience – a partnership between UJIA and The Jewish Agency for Israel - said: “UJIA Israel Experience is absolutely committed to running Israel tours this summer and while we are not able to launch applications for tours at this time, we and our partners are working tirelessly to ensure that everything is in place for the summer, with the safety and security of participants as the utmost priority.”

More than 1,250 Jewish teenagers from youth movements and organisations across the UK - a record-breaking number - took part in an Israel tour last summer through UJIA.

Stating that it was “abundantly clear that continuing to arrange and support trips to Israel is more important than it has ever been”, UJIA Israel experience cited their “educational responsibility towards our youth to provide them with meaningful Israel experiences” as well as “the financial and psychological impact our trips will have on the people of Israel who are in desperate need of our support”.