US Electronic Entry Permits for Israelis Briefly Canceled Due to System Glitch

In the past 24 hours, many Israelis reported receiving cancellation notices for their approved US electronic entry permits (ESTA), even after booking flights. Ilanit from Ashkelon, who planned a trip to the US with her two daughters in about a week, received an initial email confirming her digital entry approval two days ago. However, she then got a second email stating her trip was not authorized and that she and her daughters were barred from entering the US. She contacted the US embassy and learned that other Israelis had received similar messages, but the reasons remained unclear. Many travelers remain anxious as the flight dates approach without clear guidance on next steps.

According to a report by Mako, the ESTA status was updated back to "approved" on the official app later that evening. The US Customs and Border Protection agency confirmed an unexpected technical malfunction affected the US entry permit system. They advised airlines and travelers to verify travel status only through the official ESTA app or website to avoid confusion.