KUALA LUMPUR – At least eight Israeli citizens have been detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in recent months, some holding dual nationality while others carried only Israeli passports, Israeli news outlet ynet claimed in a report.
The travellers were either visiting Malaysia or passing through on connecting flights to other Asian destinations, amid Israel and Malaysia lacking formal diplomatic ties.
The ynet report noted that on Wednesday, four young Israelis were held while transiting to the Philippines. Among them were two women who spoke only Hebrew and were travelling on Israeli passports.
They said they had “consulted a chatbot” about the safety of transiting through Kuala Lumpur from Thailand to the Philippines and were advised it was safe. They ultimately chose to return to Thailand, the report said.
In another incident, two Israeli men travelling from Cambodia to the Philippines via Malaysia were detained for two days before being deported back to Cambodia.
Detentions usually last 24 to 48 hours but can extend longer, especially when other Asian countries refuse entry to Israelis deported from Malaysia or elsewhere.
In each case, Israel’s embassy in Singapore, led by Ambassador Eliyahu Vered Hazan and Consul Noa Oved, intervened to secure the release of the detainees, either allowing them to continue their journey or returning them to their point of origin.
Hazan warned Israelis against travelling to Malaysia.
“When lives are at stake, you cannot say ‘it will be fine,’” he was quoted as saying.
“I want to emphasise the National Security Council’s travel warning regarding Malaysia. The recommendation is clear, and I join it. Avoid travelling to Malaysia and do not transit there. All those detained had not broken any law or committed any offence.”
“The only reason for their detention was that they were Israeli. We never know if we will succeed in securing their release, and it is not a given when we do. There are Israelis who have gotten into trouble.”
Hazan added that while some Malaysians offer assistance, the situation has changed significantly, particularly since October 7, 2023.
“Targeted detentions of Israelis have become a commonplace, causing discomfort, prolonged delays and significant financial costs,” he said.
“My request is simple: If you encounter travellers or anyone planning a trip to the East, stress to them not to enter Malaysia, not for a visit and not for a layover. In an age of information overload, sometimes the most important information gets lost.”
Malaysian authorities have in recent years uncovered several cases involving Israeli nationals and alleged intelligence-linked activities in the country.
In March 2024, police arrested an Israeli man in Kuala Lumpur who was found with six firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Investigations later revealed that several locals had allegedly assisted him by procuring the weapons and facilitating his movements.
Earlier, in 2022, police foiled an alleged operation linked to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency involving the abduction of a Palestinian computer expert in the capital. The victim was reportedly kidnapped by a group of Malaysians believed to have been recruited and trained abroad, before being rescued by authorities.
Investigations into the case pointed to the existence of a broader network, with locals allegedly used as intermediaries in surveillance and operational roles.
Malaysia was also the site of the 2018 killing of Palestinian lecturer Fadi al-Batsh in Kuala Lumpur, an incident Hamas attributed to Mossad, although Israel has denied involvement. – March 28, 2026