tel aviv culinary tour

Culinary Walking Food Tours in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

Delicious Israel's curated walking tours of the markets and backstreets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem are not typical tourist tours. We are passionate about introducing you to our favorite local places to shop, eat, and experience Israeli cuisine. The walking tour range from 2 to 5 hours and are each filled with tastings, history, and fun!

Carmel Market (Tel Aviv)

Length of tour: 2-2.5 hours.

This tasting tour introduces guests to the heartbeat of Israel's modern city—in the stalls of Tel Aviv’s largest open air market, the Carmel Market ( Shuk HaCarmel in Hebrew). Diving into the depths of the Carmel Market and the backstreets of its neighboring historic Yemenite quarter, we learn about the development of Israeli cuisine through the country's history and how four generations of vendors are able to maintain their shops after almost 100 years. We will hear stories from vendors whose families were the first in the market to new shops revitalizing the hip neighborhood. Our 7+ tastings will include some of the country's freshest hummus, street food, produce, baked goods and Yemenite cuisine. 

Who is this tour best for?

Foodies who love outdoor markets

Families with kids

(Larger groups can be accommodated for this market tour) 

Levinsky Market (Tel Aviv)

Length of tour: 2-2.5 hours.

Welcome to Tel Aviv's foodie paradise! Join us for a grazing tour of the market to enjoy 7+ delicacies in an area best known for its Turkish, Greek and Persian immigrant heritage, dating back to the 1920s.

Today, gourmet chefs visit Levinsky's timeless shops for their fresh spices, dried fruits, hand-roasted coffees and deli goodies. We will visit grandfathers at their third- and fourth-generation shops as well as young and inspired trendy spots bringing a new vibe to this hipster-forward neighborhood. 

Explorers and adventure travelers who want to stray a bit off the beaten path

Foodies, chefs and visitors who want to bring home the best spices and sauces

(Larger groups can be accommodated for this market tour.)

Market Hop Tour (Tel Aviv)

Length of tour: 4 hours.

Not sure which of Tel Aviv's markets is right for your tasting tour? No need to compromise—you can do both! If you have the time and energy, take this tour to do a "hop" through both the Carmel and Levinsky markets. 

True food-lovers with the stamina to walk and eat lots of tastings

Visitors who want to experience the diversity of one open air market (the Carmel Market) and its surrounding neighborhoods as well as the historic immigrant-turned-hipster area of the Levinsky Market.

Eat Tel Aviv

Length of tour: 4.5 hours, jaffa port → carmel market.

Join us for a walk (long, but relatively flat) that weaves its way from the historic Jaffa Port to the diverse neighborhoods of Jaffa and Tel Aviv. Through the lens of food, we learn about the history and development of the Israeli culinary scene. Throughout the tour we will taste 10+ different delicacies, ranging from hummus at Israel's top hole-in-the-wall to street food to modern gastronomy. We will explore the neighborhoods of the Jaffa Flea Market, Neve Tzedek and cap off the tour in the Yemenite quarter and Carmel Market to taste what's in season. While a camera is highly suggested, the only thing we require of guests is that they come prepared with a big appetite (i.e., please eat a light breakfast ☺)! 

People who want to do a city tour through the lens of food. The tour is a taste of Jaffa and Tel Aviv's neighborhoods while learning the history of the city's growth

Visitors who enjoy lots of walking and sightseeing. The route is approximately 4-5 kilometers at a relaxed pace. There are two small hills, so mobility is necessary

Families with longer attention spans (shorter spans please look towards the shorter tours)

Eaters who are okay with carbs, sugar and gluten. If you are avoiding these, please inquire about one of our market tours, which may be more fitting

What to bring:

Comfy walking shoes

Bottle of water

Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and anything else you need to be comfortable on a hot Tel Aviv day (umbrella and rain coat in the winter)

Eat Jerusalem (Machane Yehuda Market)

Length of tour: 2.5 hours.

Our tour in Jerusalem introduces guests to the cornerstone of where ancient and modern meet – in the stalls of the country's largest outdoor market, Machane Yehuda. We will taste and peruse the aisles alongside local chefs and residents purchasing groceries, tasting lots of wonderful bakery goodies, farm-fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, spices and sweets. Through our tastings we weave through the alleys learning about how drastically the market has shifted over the past decade.  

Visitors to Jerusalem that want to enjoy a "grazing" meal through the market

HaTikva Market (Tel Aviv)

Still largely untouched by tourism, and under-the-radar (even for many locals!), the Hatikva Market and its surroundings offer the perfect area for food exploration. Serving the historically working-class neighborhood of Hatikva, this open-air shopping market located in southeast Tel Aviv offers a diverse array of traditional Israeli foods and lesser-known ethnic specialties. Expect to visit traditional Yemenite and Turkish bakeries, taste Jewish-Iraqi comfort food, discover unique spices and blends, and experience how the neighborhood is shifting throughout our 7+ stops.

Foodies who love authentic markets and specialty foods

Experienced visitors to Israel who want to shop like a local

Travelers looking for a very off-the-beaten-path experience

Eaters who are comfortable eating carbs and gluten

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A Tel Aviv food tour for every type of traveler

By: Author Brittany

Posted on Last updated: February 17, 2023

While Israel itself is known as a religious hub and attracts pilgrims from around the world, Tel Aviv is a melting pot of people from all backgrounds. This is a city where almost anything goes, and you’ll see bikini-clad teens sharing the boardwalk with fully-covered religious women. The diversity in cultures bred a diversity in food, and the cuisine in Tel Aviv is as varied as its residents. I’ve joined food tours around the world, and Tel Aviv has the broadest offering I’ve found so far. No matter your style of travel (or eating), there’s a Tel Aviv food tour that will fill you with knowledge, culture and food – tailored to your specific tastes.

The vegan (or vegan-curious)

Abraham tours vegan tasting tour.

Did you know Tel Aviv is considered the vegan capital of the world ?! Because of Jewish Kosher laws prohibiting mixing meat and milk, a plant-based diet is a great option for those keeping Kosher.

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical before the vegan food tour in Tel Aviv began. My Texas identity is wrapped up in juicy steaks and cheesy, buttery baked potatoes. I was the only non-vegetarian or vegan on the tour and prepared to feel judged.

Instead, I found a welcoming and informative tour guide, who led us to some of the most amazing vegan eateries in Tel Aviv. Many Israeli foods are intrinsically vegan by nature. If you love hummus , you already love something vegan! We also tried vegan shakshuka, a Buddha bowl and –every Millennial’s favorite– avocado toast!

Vegan shakshuka on the Tel Aviv vegan tour

Did you know Israel has the second largest population of vegetarians, second only to India! The country has an abundance of fresh fruits and veggies year round and because of the country’s small size, a passion for animal activism spreads quickly.

Trust the guide to open your eyes to some unique local dishes as you learn about vegan myths (vegans DO eat things other than salad) and reasons people choose veganism as a lifestyle (moral, health, and environment).

Finish the tour at Meshek Barzilay for a sweet ending! Try a cashew cheesecake cannoli and their three types of chocolate delight. The sampler plate includes chocolate mousse with white chocolate base (made with garbanzo water), three-layer chocolate cake with coffee cream and chocolate cake with white chocolate cream. This is hands-down one of the best desserts I’ve ever tried, and I went back another day for a second serving!

Meshek Barzilay vegan chocolate dessert

The fashionista

The chic tour by bitemojo.

When I think of food and fashion, I’m mostly trying not to spill on my shirt and praying that my clothes still fit after I eat all the food. But the creative minds at bitemojo curated a DIY tour which introduces you to the artists of Tel Aviv as you explore the Carmel market streets, Kerem HaTeimanim, and Nahalat Binyamin. Enjoy 6 tastings in between visiting vintage shops and trying on handmade woolen scarves.

This is a DIY tour which can be done at your own pace via the bitemojo app on your phone. The app serves up vouchers for each tasting once you arrive at your destination, including a very tasty Malabi, a milky pudding made with rice, sugar, milk and rosewater. Complete the entire tour in one day or go back for the final tastings if you fill up early on in the tour.

Malabi in Carmel Market Tel Aviv

The political traveler

The other tel aviv tour.

Take part in a food tour unlike any you’ve ever experienced! Begin at Abraham Hostel and meet your guide for a walk to Tel Aviv’s old central station. From here, you’ll learn about the Neve Shaanan neighborhood’s unique and complicated story: from its establishment by Jewish workers nearly a century ago through major demographic shifts in recent years. The current residents of this neighborhood are labeled as “refugees”, “asylum seekers”, “migrant workers”, and “infiltrators”, living side-by-side with Israeli residents who have lived there for decades.

On this tour, you’ll learn about the culture from a local activist as you taste your way through the neighborhood. Visit one of the oldest shops around, owned by an Israeli Jew who specializes in nuts before heading to an Eritrean speakeasy of sorts. 

The Other Tel Aviv Tour – nut shop

Enjoy a traditional drink in a Hamra , a hidden drinks house and social gathering place for the Eritrean community. Continue on to taste cuisines from many different cultures, treating your taste buds to a delicious journey through parts of the world your eyes have likely never seen.

The Other Tel Aviv Tour – Eritrean Hamra

The Other Tel Aviv is part food tour, part educational experience and a completely eye opening day!

The traveler who wants to see the entire city through their stomach

Delicious israel eat tel aviv.

Delicious Israel’s 4.5 hour tour takes you on a 2.5-3 mile walking tour from Jaffa Port to Carmel Market. Enjoy 10 tastings from hidden gems and trendy eateries as you tour through Jaffa Flea Market, Neve Tzedek and end the foodie experience in the Yemenite quarter and Carmel Market. If you can’t decide which tour to take… this one has it all!

Hummus Shlomo and Doron Tel Aviv

The religious traveler

Delicious israel private shabbat dinner.

If you’re looking for a unique, intimate foodie experience in Tel Aviv, let Delicious Israel invite you into their family for a special Shabbat dinner. Join in the Shabbat blessings over the wine and challah before enjoying a meal curated to showcase local Israeli flavors.

Abraham Hostel Shabbat Dinner

If you want to learn more about Shabbat traditions, but feel nervous about joining a Shabbat dinner in an intimate setting, Abraham Hostel hosts a weekly Shabbat meal for travelers. A hostel employee hosts the evening, lighting the candles and explaining their family traditions.

This is a low-pressure, family dinner for any type of traveler will enjoy!

Delicious Israel Levinsky Market Tour

The foodie who wants to bring a bit of Israel home with them will love the Delicious Israel Levinsky Market Tour. This neighborhood is known for their fresh spices, dried fruits, hand-roasted coffees. On this tour,  you’ll get to try the best of the best. Delicious Israel has relationships with grandfathers at third and fourth generation shops, and they’re happy to introduce them to you.

Enjoy seven tastings in Levinsky Market and with each bite, you’ll taste the influence of Turkish, Greek and Iranian immigrants who have called this area home since the 1920s. Don’t forget to save space in your suitcase! You’ll want to buy some za’atar and coffee to share with friends back home (or save it for yourself, we won’t judge!).

Levinsky Market dried nuts and fruit

The hipster

Bitemojo hipster tel aviv.

Q: How did the Israeli hipster burn his mouth? A: He ate his shakshuka before it was cool!

I love a good hipster joke. But all jokes aside, hipsters always know what’s going to be the next big trend. Levinsky Market is full of history and secret family recipes. It’s also where graffiti artists take up their cans of spray paint on a nightly basis— their act of rebellion coating Florentine with colorful murals that will add to any Instagram. (The neighborhood was the perfect location for my Purim photoshoot!)

Melting ice cream cone costume for Purim

This DIY tour from bitemojo includes six tastings alongside stories, memories and a history of a neighborhood that’s somehow rooted in history and cutting-edge.

Tel Aviv is a food-lover’s dream. Try hummus served warm (I promise you’ll never eat the grocery store kind ever again). Devour ice cream in the most unusual flavors made by marine biologists. Shoot Arak and find it burns in the best way possible. Whatever you eat, your taste buds will thank you for visiting Tel Aviv. Your problem won’t be finding good food, it will be buttoning your jeans after your visit!

Which of these eight food tours in Tel Aviv sound like the most fun to you?

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Monday 3rd of February 2020

Seems like it'd take a great part of the year to complete the tour and taste you've described here, and a good story to tell later. you've made a Tel Aviv journey inviting

Welcome to Lo caLocal

An authentic bite of tel aviv.

I’m Tal, a foodie, anthropologist, and proud Tel Avivian. I love meeting new people and I’ve always wanted to give people a way to experience the amazing flavors and hidden jams Tel Aviv has to offer while telling the stories behind the food. In 2019 I finally decided to make my dream come true and founded LocaLocal. 

Let me show you my Tel Aviv in an unforgettable tasty way!

HaTikva Market

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Carmel Market & Yemenite Vinyard

Levinsky Market

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Fascinating Culinary and Historical tours in Tel Aviv and Jaffa

The wonderful flavors of Shapira-Florentine neighborhoods

Fascinating and delicious culinary secrets hidden in the streets of these old neighborhoods.

During the tour we will visit and taste them in several different ethnic restaurants that reflect their rich history, which began as a utopia of Jews who fled Jaffa and continues today, in waves of asylum seekers from Africa and India.

Abu Kabir's Hidden Gardens

This historical tour will be conducted together on the remains of the Arab village of Abu Kabir, which was destroyed in the great battles of the War of Independence.

Among other things, we will also visit an ancient Muslim cemetery and a beautiful Russian church. The tour starts at 106 Kibbutz Galuyot Street and ends with a coffee and pastry picnic in the woods park.

The magical nights of Lewinsky-Florentine neighborhoods

We will start this tour at the Romano House, one of the most impressive historic buildings in south Tel Aviv, through which we will pass the Railway Park and from there ascend to the Lewinsky Market which has recently become a pedestrian mall.

From there we will continue, through a few "refueling" stations of food and drink and some near and far history, straight to the wild nightlife scene of Florentine, which has become the entertainment center of the city's youth.

A Little About Me...

Yakir elakriv.

Journalist and author, he worked for many years as a senior editor in the Yedioth Ahronoth group. Among his other positions were editor of the "Tel Aviv newspaper", editor of the Air Force magazine and deputy editor of the "7 Days" supplement. Has published several books, poetry and prose over the years. The last of which, "Masuda", was a great success, published by Am Oved in early 2020, and won the love of the audience and critical acclaim.

For the past ten years, Yakir has lived in south Tel Aviv, exploring the area and leading food tours and historical tours in the southern neighborhoods - the Shapira neighborhood, Neve Sha'anan, the new central station, Abu Kabir and Florence. In the experiential trips, Yakir combines the vast knowledge he has accumulated in the many years he has been a restaurant critic, with historical stories that shed a new and surprising light on the neighborhoods where the tours take place.

The Secrets of Rothschild Avenue

A tour of Ahuzat Beit - Rothschild Boulevard, Ganim neighborhood, the beginning of the city of Tel Aviv.

A tour of Rothschild Boulevard Tel Aviv, also known as Ahuzat Beit or Ganim neighborhood, combines old with new. Between the fascinating stories of the establishment of the White City - Tel Aviv and the constant growth and renewal of the boulevard.

Graffiti and street art tour

In this particularly intriguing tour, we will explore in depth the underground street art scene, which gets a crazy stage here and gives Tel Aviv the title of "Israel's graffiti capital", we will talk about the differences between graffiti and other types of street art, get to know the leading artists and groups in the field.  ​

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For any inquiries about our tours and for registration details, feel free to leave us a message below or contact Yakir directly on Whatsapp.

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Tel Aviv Food Tour: The Magic of Carmel Market

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• Tour number: 92

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Tour Overview

Take a flavorful journey through the Carmel Market with our expert Tel Aviv food tour, led by a PRO foodie guide! You’ll delve into the heart of Israeli cuisine, discovering unique tastes and surprising cultural connections. T his odyssey will introduce you to the vibrant world of the market, where renowned chefs converge. Immerse yourself in the culinary tales that shape Tel Aviv's identity, exploring a mosaic of flavors and ingredients. So what are you waiting for? 

Sites During the Tour

Highlights - tel aviv food tour, availability, pickup places and prices, what to expect - tel aviv food tour.

This Tel Aviv food tour is a must for every foodie, history lover, and culture buff alike! You’ll discover the city’s most famous outdoor market where the sounds, aromas, and colors will wake all of your senses. 

You'll start in the pedestrian streets of Nahalat Binyamin, the famous bohemian neighborhood, all filled with captivating Bauhaus architecture. You'll enjoy the sights and move on to the main attraction: Established in 1920, Carmel Market is the largest in the city - Fresh produce is piled high, meat is cut to order, spices are sold out of large sacks and fishmongers sell the catch of the day. The market has become a foodie destination, with many artisan food stalls and small eateries; Israeli cooking was Influenced by Marocan, Egyptian, Lebanese, Yemenite, Ethiopian, and even Persian Kitchens - and you’ll feel this variety in every bite. 

Our guide will take you to the best stalls and spots, for hours of mouth-watering fun: You’ll try the famous local shawarma, with succulent layers of marinated meat expertly grilled to perfection; You’ll fall in love with the pastries, the artisan Cheeze, and the best Falafel you’ve ever tasted; and be surprised by the creamy hummus, silky smooth tahini and vibrant, tangy pickled vegetables. 

After a taste of sweet desserts served just in the right portions, you’ll have a chance to try Israeli liquor as well - from original local Beers to the delightful sting of Arak. 

The mixture of food on sale in Carmel Market is a testament to the diverse ethnic groups that have settled in Israel and brought with them traditional foods - and your tour guide will introduce you to them all, and show you their place in the special market culture. Your tour will go past Kerem HaTeimanim, another colorful neighborhood, with plenty of photo-ops and wonderful little restaurants favored by locals for over 100 years. 

Additional Information - Tel Aviv Food Tour

The tour includes:.

• An English-speaking, professional guide
• Food and drink tasting (worth over $20)

The tour does not include:

• Hotel pick-up/drop-off
• Bottled water
• Your pickup time and place will be 12:30 at 22 Carmel Street; Your drop-off point will be the Seven-Eleven at 1 Nachlat Binyamin Street (Magen David Square). 
• Let your guide know if you have any food allergies and intolerances.
• The Tel Aviv Food Tour duration will be about 2 hours.
• The tour will end at the original departure point
• Tips are optional.
• The tour is available privately with special additions, upon request.
• Booking is subject to  terms and conditions .

Cancellation Policy

• 4% charge for notification up to 2 days or more before the start time of the tour.
• 25% charge for notification of a day before the start time of the tour.
• 100% charge for notification on the same day of the tour.

A day tour is a regular tour that we operate on specific weekdays. Tours depart from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Herzliya and Netanya. You have the option to upgrade your tour and ensure for yourself a place in a small group (up to 19 people). The tour duration from pickup time is approximately 10 hours. You will be picked up from your hotel, and after the tour, you will be returned to your hotel.

Almost all of our daily tours are operated primarily in English, in addition to a second language:  Or Spanish, or Russian, or German and or French. You can choose the preferred language of the tour when booking. You can view the tour schedule, as well as the second language schedule in order to make your best suited choice.

When booking your tour, you will need to mark which language you’d like the tour to be in. Note that for certain tours in certain languages, the price may be higher.

Yes, the tasting experience is diverse and offers different types of cuisine. You must notify your tour guide about your specific allergy or sensitivity, so they'll know which alternatives to suggest as you walk through the market food stands.

Please be aware that not every food stand may offer a safe alternative for your particular allergy or sensitivity. It is essential to communicate directly with the stand's personnel to verify the absence of any ingredients that could potentially affect your health or overall experience. 

Some of the dishes offered on this tour are vegan and vegetarian, based on Humus and vegetables. Please be aware that not all food stands will provide vegan or vegetarian alternatives, so it's recommended to inquire about dietary options at each stand.

Children under 12 and students (with a valid student card) receive a 10% discount. 

Yes, but not too much. We definitely recommend bringing some local currency with you to pay for lunch and anything you may wish to; purchase along the way.

No, as there will be no place to store it, and trying to walk with your luggage in a crowded market will hurt your experience and interfere with the group's pace. 

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Delicious Israel - Private Culinary Walking Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Culinary Tour in Tel Aviv

The sprawling Carmel Market can be difficult for tourists to navigate on their own. During this half-day culinary tour, you will get an insider’s introduction to the iconic market in central Tel Aviv. You will learn about the different immigrant communities that have brought their flavors to modern Israel. Sample a variety of snacks, coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages as you visit stalls, delis, and local restaurants.

General information

You can pay online

24-hour refund policy

The tour starts at 9:00 hrs

Included / excluded

Meeting point

Meetin point is at Magen David Square, Tel Aviv-Yafo. We will wait at the square, right at the entrance to the Carmel Market.

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Feed Your Sol

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Taste Tel Aviv

Perfect for individuals  &  groups , Chef Moran Sol Broza will take you on

a journey of tastes which make up Israeli cuisine.  Meet locals, learn about Tel Aviv, & eat the most delicious food.  

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Yalla basta, it’s a savor to meet you.

Yalla Basta is an innovative tourism company specializing in content and culinary experiences in Israel’s most popular markets. The market best represents the micro-cosmos of the Israeli society and visiting one gives a glamps into Israel in a unique and fascinating way. As part of our vision, to make the market experience accessible to everyone, we run eight websites full of content and information, which would help you get to know the various markets better, plan your visit there and decide, as you go, if you want to travel on your own or with our tastings and tours card.

Our tastings card is a uniquely fun product, allowing you to experience the market at your own time and pace, while tasting and eating from the best stalls and stores in each market, learning about the market as you roam it and coming into touch with the vendors. Today, we offer a selection of card, all bilingual (Hebrew and English), which would provide you with the most unique experience of each market, it culture and vendors. Some of them fit those who keep Kosher and others fit those traveling on the weekends. We also produce branded cards for educational and commercial companies, intensifying their fun activity.

The guided tours lead groups, families and colleagues on a roaming full of scents, flavors, stories and anecdotes from the lively market’s life and are build together with you, in order to best fit the nature of the group, preferred tastings and style of tour that would fit you. Our tours focus on the cultural and culinary experience of the place and allow you to take a few hours’ break from the daily life and get in touch with the vibrant and colorful rhythm of the market. We have tours in English, Hebrew, Spanish, French and Russian, according to the group’s needs.

Yalla Basta works with the leading organizations, bodies and companies in the market. We maintain the highest level of service and are satisfied by the returning customer base, keep coming back for additional and new experiences in market and the unique places Israel has to offer.  

 Our websites:   Machane Yehuda | Old City of Jerusalem  | Shuk HaCarmel | Shuk Levinsky  | Jaffa flea Market  | Shuk Nazareth | Shuk Ramla  | Walking tours Israel  | Berlin food tours

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As Romans we're wildly passionate about Italian food and we'd be delighted to share our love of food with you.

Italian food is recognised around the world for its delicious flavours, exquisite dishes and world class ingredients. Although many countries now have some great Italian food, it's only when you visit Italy that you're able to taste the true passion and the best flavours this country has to offer.

By booking our Secret Food Tours: Rome, you'll enjoy a variety of local Italian favorites.

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Secret Food Tours: Tel Aviv

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Tel Aviv Food Tour - Secret Food Tours

As Romans we're wildly passionate about Italian food and we'd be delighted to share our love of food with you. Italian food is recognised around the world for its delicious flavours, exquisite dishes and world class ingredients. Although many countries now have some great Italian food, it's only when you visit Italy that you're able to taste the true passion and the best flavours this country has to offer. By booking our Secret Food Tours: Rome, you'll enjoy a variety of local Italian favorites.

Explore our Tel Aviv Food Tours

On our Secret Food Tour: Tel Aviv we’ll provide you an unforgettable sensory and flavoury experience.

Our Secret Tours, you'll enjoy a variety of local Italian favorites. Italian food is recognised around the world for its delicious flavours, exquisite dishes and world class ingredients. Although many countries now have some great Italian food, it's only when you visit Italy that you're able to taste the true passion and the best flavours this country has to offer.

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11 Delicious Foods To Try In Tel Aviv And Where To Find Them

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With its sprawling beachfront and wide, shady boulevards, Tel Aviv is a stunning city that never sleeps. But the White City offers more than just its good looks — it’s a”foodie-forward” city. Its diversity of fresh, flavorful, and fabulous food has resulted in being voted one of the top destinations for vegan travelers. From street food to top chefs, the cooks and kitchens of this city adopted a fusion of culinary traditions and cooking methods spanning 3,000 years of history all over the globe.

From the pedestrian streets of Carmel Market to the stone paths of Jaffa’s old city, I absolutely fell in love with the delicious dishes and food culture in Tel Aviv. I have listed some of my favorite foods in Tel Aviv , giving you a bit of background on what and how, as well as where to go and try each one.

Tourist Israel was my host for the Tel Aviv Food Tasting Tour of the Carmel Market which contributed to this article. However, all opinions are my own. 

Hakosem Falafel

Falafel is a fried ball made of chickpeas, spices, and herbs; it is one of Tel Aviv’s most recognized street foods and is considered the national dish of Israel . Crispy and crunchy, it’s most often served in a fresh pita with a salad, pickles, and tahini. It’s one of Israel’s favorite street foods and vegetarian, perfect for everyone.

You can find great Falafel everywhere in Tel Aviv, from street stalls to markets. My favorite was Hakosem Falafel in the heart of Tel Aviv-Yafo. It’s a street food establishment that offers Israeli cuisine with good vibes and a bustling atmosphere.

2. Knafeh 

Yaffa knafeh .

Knafeh is a fantastic traditional Middle Eastern sweet dessert of syrup-dipped pastry filled with cheese and often pistachios and other treats on top. Near the flea market, I passed Yaffa Knafeh on my bike and noticed a line of people wrapped down the street. I just had to stop and see what the fuss was all about. 

Watching the cooks put the knafeh pans on the hot coals, flip them, add a splash of sweet syrup, and listen to it sizzle — the best. If you eat dinner in Jafffa or are simply out for a stroll, do not pass up Yaffa Knafeh for dessert. Your sweet tooth will thank you.

Pro Tip: Top off the warm knafeh with goat cheese ice cream and chopped pistachios. 

Magic Halvah 

Halva is a confection made from sesame seed paste and sugar with a dense texture and a nutty aroma. It comes in different flavors, such as vanilla and chocolate, and is infused with nuts and other things.

Magic Halvah (Kesem Ha Halva) is a small shop in Levinsky Market offering a variety of halva and is a must-visit. My favorite is topped with pistachios. They will cut a whole slice for you, then you cut it into bite-sized pieces to savor along with coffee or tea.

4. Spices And Herbs 

Pereg spices.

Tel Aviv is famous for hard-to-find eastern spices and herbs. Pereg Spices in Levinsky Market is one of the hidden gems of Tel Aviv, loved by locals and tourists alike who quickly fall in love with its one-of-a-kind atmosphere and a plethora of local and Middle Eastern spices and herb blends, including za’atar. 

In the late 1920s, many working-class immigrants from Greece settled in the Florentin neighborhood in the south of Tel Aviv. Levinsky Market became the throbbing heart of this immigrant neighborhood, a reflection of the cultural melting pot where you could find spices and goods from around the globe.

5. Shakshouka

Dr. shakshuka.

This North African baked egg dish contains tomato, onion, cumin, chili peppers, and spices. It is served sizzling hot with sunny-side-up eggs on top. Traditionally eaten for breakfast, this one-skillet dish is best enjoyed with warm slices of thick bread to mop up all the flavors. It’s an Israeli staple and the ultimate comfort food.

Dr. Shakshuka is a well-known culinary institution in Jaffa. Founded in the ‘90s, this kosher establishment feeds hungry people who love this authentic food.

6. Druze Pita

Carmel market.

The freshly-rolled dough is stretched by spinning it between the hands and flipping it onto a dome-shaped oven on which it cooks. The pita, which is large and thin, browns and bubbles lightly. It’s folded and slathered with Labneh white cheese, za’atar spice, tabouli, and olive oil; rolled up; and sliced into pieces for easy eating. The Druze are a small ethnic minority in Israel, but their bread — and reputation for making it — is renowned.

Carmel Market is Tel Aviv’s largest and most-famous cultural melting pot. It was a popular stop on my food-tasting tour of the Carmel Market. Crowds gathered and watched the cook transform one giant pita after another, waiting for a taste.

This Yemenite flatbread has a touch of tang, similar in texture to Ethiopian injera bread, spotted with holes created by fermentation bubbles. Spongy like a crumpet on one side and smooth like a pancake on the other, it is served with tasty Yemenite sides like baked eggs, fresh tomato, and spicy green chile sauce called “zhug.” I recommend savoring the bread with delicious Yemini stews or soups.

Shaluf and Sons is an authentic Yemini eatery where you can eat on a budget in the Kerem Hateimanim neighborhood, outside the Levinsky Market. Stop for lunch, sit at a communal table, and the staff will assist with recommendations on all the delicious Yemenite delights.

7. Local Cheeses

Beit kandinof .

Israel’s cuisine is heavily influenced by dairy, which plays a prominent role on most menus throughout the country, especially around the Festival of Shavuot. This delicious, grilled bryndza cheese is a sheep cheese swimming in a savory tomato cream, topped with mixed nuts and green chili oil. 

Beit Kandinof is a combination of an art gallery, bar, and restaurant with a fun atmosphere. Located in the Kandinov House, it was built adjacent to the walls of Old Jaffa and the port walls at the end of the 19th century. This satisfying grilled bryndza cheese was just one course of my favorite meal in Tel Aviv.

Abu Hassan Restaurant

A plate of hummus is one of Israel’s most iconic dishes. Any rendition of Israel’s most iconic food you find in Tel Aviv will shame the supermarket version in the U.S. The simplicity of the chickpeas with fresh tahini scooped up with warm rounds of pita can’t be beaten.

Abu Hassan is said to serve the best hummus in Israel. This culinary gem is a tiny place with simple kitchen tables and a scarce amount of chairs; the long lines prove something special is done here. 

Pro Tip: You must go before 2 p.m. as they close after the daily batch finishes.

9. Shawarma 

Golda’s deli.

Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern dish featuring slow-roasted, mouth-watering meats, usually cooked on a revolving spit and shaved for serving. I had a turkey shawarma plate with burnt eggplant, onion in sumac, tomato, parsley, and sauerkraut tahini served with pita at Golda’s Deli in the Jaffa Hotel.

Named after Israel’s first female prime minister, Gold Meir, the deli-style restaurant features Israeli classics, a street-food-inspired menu, and fresh Mediterranean salads from an open kitchen. Dining in the lovely open courtyard of the hotel, choosing just one of the options was hard. I couldn’t resist adding a poppy-seed-covered bagel as big as the plate.

Levinsky Market

Kubbeh is a popular dish in Levantine cuisine and is made of bulgur and minced onions with ground beef, lamb, or goat. Aromatic meat and spices can be fried, baked, or cooked in a broth. Proprietor Avi was surrounded by giant bubbling pots and everything smelled delicious.

Located at Stall 53 in the Levinsky Market, in the southern part of Tel Aviv, it brims with atmosphere and aromas. The Levinsky Market was founded by Greek immigrants in the 1920s, and later, welcomed an influx of Iranian, Persian, and Yemenite immigrants who shared their dishes and customs from home. 

Pro Tip: The market operates daily from Sunday through Thursday and closes early Friday afternoon through Saturday for Shabbat.

11. Kataifi

Carmel market .

Kataifi is a popular dessert in the Middle East, Turkey, and Greece. The buttery, shredded dough and a mixture of coarsely-chopped nuts are generously soaked in cinnamon-flavored sugar syrup. Much like baklava, I loved the little bird nest shapes filled with pistachios.

This is one of many vendors in Carmel Market that first opened in 1920. I marveled at the sweet treats around every corner. This stall was overflowing with heavenly bites just waiting for passersby to try and take home. 

Pro Tip: Take the Tel Aviv Food Tasting Tour of the Carmel Market with Tourist Israel. The 2-hour tour is an introduction to the market and a delicious tasting opportunity.

Sharon pairs her zeal for travel writing with the side hustle of leading small-group womens tours. She is always looking for that unique angle to bring a fresh perspective to a story. Enjoy more of Sharon’s writing on her website , or follow her on Instagram .

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Tel Aviv is a rising star in the international street art and graffiti scene. This magical tour will take you through the side streets and alleyways of this colorful urban underground scene. Together we will explore the best works of the street art and graffiti that covers the walls of our public space. Come learn about the history of graffiti, discuss philosophical, psychological and economical aspects of urban art, get to know the different agendas and styles of this  constantly changing art that is a hidden part of our everyday lives. The walls around us speak to us every day, join us and learn the language of the streets.

Cost: 149NIS per person 

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Tasting tours in Tel Aviv's markets

Taste   some   of the best middle eastern cuisine and soak in the atmosphere in Tel Aviv's open air markets. Try special delicatessen unique to these markets and hear authentic stories between the stalls.  

Cost: 235NIS per person 

Sunday: 12:30PM – Levinski market Monday: 12:30PM –  Jaffa Flea Market  Jerusalem Machne Yeduda

Tuesday: 12:30PM – Carmel Market Wednesday: 12:30PM – Levinski market

Thursday: 12:30PM – Jaffa Flea Market   Jerusalem Machne Yeduda

Friday: 11:00PM - Carmel Market

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Is a One-of-a-kind culinary adventure

Tel Aviv has been repeatedly named the #1 vegan culinary destination in the world. Here is where generations old traditional vegan and vegetarian cuisine meet innovative young chefs to deliver a truly unique culinary experience, a one-of-a-kind savory adventure for food lovers, whether you are vegan or not.  

You will taste the best dishes of the top vegan restaurants and street food in Tel Aviv handpicked by true foodies.

Between the bites we will talk about the philosophy and history of veganism, break all myths around it and learn about healthy nutrition.

Join us and try the wide variety of vegan food that our city has to offer.

Make sure to come hungry!

Cost:299NIS 

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PUB CRAWL - NIGHT TOUR

Night tour of Tel Aviv's wild nightlife

Tel Aviv is a destination world-famous for its bustling nightlife and party scenes, attracting the best DJ's and young travelers from all over the world. We provide local connections to all the hidden spots you probably won’t find by yourself and  VIP hospitality in all the massive clubs. There is an abundance of different styles and places to go and we have all the options and knowledge you may need to party till you drop.

Cost: 100NIS per person 

Join us for an unforgettable night. Try to keep up, in the city that never sleeps.

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How the Iran attacks could impact holidays – to the Middle East and beyond

B ritish holidaymakers heading to the Middle East and as far away as Australia face travel disruption , after Iran carried out a major drone attack on Israel on April 13.

A number of airlines including easyJet, KLM and Wizz Air have temporarily cancelled flights to Tel Aviv in the wake of the attacks, and some long-haul operators have stopped flying over Iran, prompting lengthy detours.

Meanwhile, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice to 16 countries – including Morocco, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates – after the April 13 attacks.

Here is everything you need to know about how Iran’s attack on Israel has affected aviation, with advice on travel to Morocco, Egypt, Dubai and Jordan, plus how the rising conflict in the Middle East has impacted long-haul travel routes.

What are the latest Foreign Office updates?

After the recent events in the Middle East, the FCDO has updated its travel advice to 16 countries. Travellers to Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen – some of which the FCDO already advises against visiting – have been urged to exercise additional caution.

The updated advice says: “On 13 April 2024 Iran carried out military action against Israel. Monitor this travel advice and other media as the situation is changing fast. Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Read FCDO advice on how to deal with a crisis overseas.”

However, the update does not affect any overarching, pre-existing travel advisory. The tourist areas of Egypt, Morocco and Dubai, for example, remain “green” on the FCDO’s advice pages. 

How has travel to Israel been affected?

After Iran carried out its drone attack, Israel closed all airports in the country and its airspace. A number of neighbouring countries including Jordan, Iran, Lebanon and Iraq have also temporarily closed their airspace or heavily monitored air traffic. 

The above countries have since reopened their airspaces, but easyJet has cancelled its flights to Israel in the wake of the attacks, just a month after resuming flights to Tel Aviv after the October 2023 attacks. 

A spokesman said: “Due to the evolving situation in Israel, easyJet has taken the decision to temporarily pause operations to and from Tel Aviv until April 21.” EasyJet has contacted affected customers and says: “The safety and security of our passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.”

A spokesman for Wizz said: “Wizz Air confirms that it cancelled its flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday April 14 and Monday April 15, following the ongoing escalation in the region. The airline will resume flights as of Tuesday April 16; however, passengers may experience some schedule changes.” Wizz added that it is closely monitoring the situation, and all affected passengers will be provided with rebooking or refund options. 

KLM told The Telegraph that it has also cancelled flights to Tel Aviv on Monday April 15.

Are adventure tours in Jordan still going ahead?

Iran already had an FCDO travel advisory in place, and Israel is either orange (non-essential travel is not advised) or red (all travel is not advised), but the adventure tour destination Jordan remains green in the eyes of the FCDO, with the exception of its border with Syria.

The adventure tour operator Explore told The Telegraph : “Our tours to Jordan are currently operating as usual, and we have groups travelling in-country at the moment. At the moment, the situation in Jordan remains calm and the Foreign Office advice has not changed – Jordan remains open to travel. 

“We always have flexible booking conditions where we’ll look to swap customers’ departure date or trip, or offer a credit note, up to 10 days prior to departure, minus any irrecoverable costs. For anyone due to travel to Jordan in the next 10 days, we’re offering this flexibility up to the date of departure.”

The implications for long-haul travel

Due to existing airspace restrictions in the Middle East, airlines flying between Europe and Asia typically route via a narrow northerly corridor across Turkey and Azerbaijan, or via a southerly route above the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia.

However, following the events of April 13, some airlines are now re-routing away from Iranian airspace. A spokesman for Qantas told The Telegraph : “We’re temporarily adjusting the flight paths for our flights between Perth and London due to the situation in parts of the Middle East.”

Qantas is now operating its usually non-stop service from Perth to London with a stop-over in Singapore in order to keep carrying a full load of customers, although the return leg will continue non-stop due to prevailing winds. KLM is also giving the region a wide berth: “As a precaution, we do not fly over Iran and Israel,” a spokesman said, although they did not give a time limit for this measure.

However, some major airlines do continue to fly over Iran. A spokesman for Wizz told The Telegraph that it continues to fly over the country: “There are no restrictions in place; however, the airline is monitoring the situation on a 24/7 basis for any changes,” a spokesman said. Looking at the flight-tracking website Flightradar24 on Monday April 15, it is evident that a number of airlines continue to fly over the country.

Mark Zee, of Opsgroup, an organisation which monitors airspace and airports globally, says: “Several airlines are already flying over Iran again. Ultimately it comes down to each operator’s risk appetite.” 

However, he adds: “The events of the weekend are not likely to create any significant or long-term routing issues. The only immediate impact will be a preference for operators to route via Egypt and Saudi Arabia instead of Turkey and Iran/Iraq for a Middle East transit. This is most relevant for long-haul operators between Europe and Asia.”

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Middle East Crisis Thousands Demonstrate Against Netanyahu in Israel on Eve of War’s 6-Month Mark

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• Palestinians performing prayers for Ramadan next to a destroyed mosque in Rafah, Gaza, in the early hours of Saturday morning. Haitham Imad/EPA, via Shutterstock
• A banner in Tel Aviv calling for the release of hostages kidnapped by militants during the Oct. 7 attack. Hannah Mckay/Reuters
• Smoke billowed after an Israeli strike on the southern Lebanese border village of Tayr Harfa. Kawnat Haju/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
• Muslims reading the Quran during Ramadan at the Aqsa compound in Jerusalem’s Old City. Ammar Awad/Reuters
• Palestinians outside Al Awda Mosque in Rafah. Haitham Imad/EPA, via Shutterstock
• Palestinians walking near destroyed buildings in Al Nusairat, Gaza, on Friday. Mohammed Saber/EPA, via Shutterstock
• A woman sat in a damaged building missing its outer wall in Rafah, southern Gaza. Haitham Imad/EPA, via Shutterstock

The recovery of a hostage’s body in Gaza fuels anger at weekly protests in Tel Aviv.

Relatives and supporters of those abducted on Oct. 7 in Israel turned their weekly protest into a somber vigil on Saturday, remembering a hostage whose body was recovered this week in Gaza and whose plight outraged thousands at a nearby antigovernment protest.

The Israeli military said on Saturday that it had retrieved the body of Elad Katzir, 47, in Khan Younis and repatriated him. The militant group Islamic Jihad took Mr. Katzir from the Nir Oz Kibbutz. He had twice appeared in videos during his captivity, and died in January at the hands of his captors, according to the Israeli military, an assertion that could not be verified.

The news came on the eve of the war’s six-month anniversary on Sunday, when thousands are expected to gather in Israel for more protests.

“For six months we have been in a nightmare,” said Esther Buchstab, the mother of Yagev Buchstab, 34, who was taken from Kibbutz Nirim on Oct. 7, speaking at a vigil in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening in Israel. She added, “We demand that the state do everything to reach a deal, to bring back the living for rehabilitation and the murdered for burial.”

Nearby, in Democracy Square, thousands of antigovernment protesters called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring home the more than 130 hostages still missing after Oct. 7.

As the protest was wrapping up, a car drove through the crowd of demonstrators in violation of police orders, wounding several people, according to a statement from police on Telegram.It wasn’t clear why the driver drove the car into the crowd, but the driver ignored police orders to stop and passengers in the car could be seen yelling at protesters in video posted on social media.

“‘Destroying Hamas’ and ‘absolute victory’ are meaningless slogans,” Eran Herkevi, 66, an agricultural specialist said. “There is real pressure to bring back the remaining hostages, otherwise the public will never be able to recover as a society.”

These sentiments were echoed by Sarit Perl, 65, a retiree and the mother of three combat soldiers who are all in their second round of deployments. She called for Mr. Netanyahu to be impeached and for new elections to replace him.

“I’m here today, because there are three things that need to happen now: impeachment, bringing back all the hostages and holding elections,” she said.

Ms. Perl criticized Mr. Netanyahu, who is facing mounting calls for elections and whose home in Jerusalem has been the site of frequent protests, including earlier this week.

“Netanyahu has never functioned as a prime minister,” Ms. Perl said. “But now he appears to be acting to deliberately to destroy the chances to succeed in reaching a deal, and nothing in Israel will ever recover as long as he remains in his position.”

Sahar Shapira, 42, said that the death of the hostage, Mr. Katzir, highlighted the urgent need for an agreement to return the hostages. “It is clear to people that the hostages cannot survive,” she said, predicting that “many others like him will return in a similar way.”

In an interview with The New York Times in 2009 , after Palestinian rocket attacks led to a deadly three-week Israeli offensive against Hamas in Gaza, Mr. Katzir told a reporter that he had a nagging feeling. “I do not feel any victory,” Mr. Katzir said at the time, when the fighting had ended with a shaky cease-fire. “I still do not feel safe.”

News of Mr. Katzir’s death has inflamed tensions in Israel. In a statement announcing the vigil on Saturday, representatives of the relatives of hostages called on Israelis to gather in Jerusalem on Sunday for a rally marking six months of war.

Families of the abductees have organized rallies in a public plaza near the Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv every Saturday to pressure the government to make a deal for their relatives’ return. The gatherings have often converged with antigovernment protests.

Israeli officials are meeting with representatives from Egypt, Qatar and the United States in Cairo on Sunday to pick up discussions on a hostage deal that have been stalled for months. President Biden is pressuring participants to reach an agreement that leads to an “immediate cease-fire” and the return of hostages.

Noam Peri, the daughter of hostage Haim Peri, 79, who was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz and who Hamas claimed in December was among five hostages killed in Gaza in an Israeli airstrike, demanded action from the Israeli government. “Mr. Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet, this is on you!” she said, adding, “Do not come back without a deal!”

— Gabby Sobelman and Ephrat Livni

Israel says it recovered the body of a hostage who was taken from a kibbutz on Oct. 7.

Israel’s military said on Saturday that it had recovered the body of a man who was taken hostage from one of the communities hardest hit during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack, almost six months to the day after his abduction.

The man, Elad Katzir, 47, was killed by his captors in mid-January while being held in Gaza by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Israeli military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said in a news briefing on Saturday. Mr. Hagari cited multiple intelligence sources but did not provide details. The Israeli military’s assertion that Mr. Katzir had been killed by his captors could not be independently verified.

Mr. Katzir had lived in Nir Oz, a kibbutz near the border with the Gaza Strip. Over a quarter of its more than 400 residents were either killed or abducted in the attack — including Mr. Katzir’s father, Avraham, who was killed, and mother, Hanna, who was also taken hostage, according to the Israeli military.

Hanna Katzir was released in November as part of a brief cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas in which more than 100 hostages were returned . The return of Ms. Katzir, 76, stunned some of her family members because Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group backed by Iran, had earlier claimed that she was dead.

The families of the more than 130 hostages held in Gaza have expressed mounting anger and despair, saying that the Israeli government is not doing enough to reach a deal for their release. On Saturday, Mr. Katzir’s sister, Carmit Katzir, denounced the Israeli government for not reaching an agreement in time to secure her brother’s release.

“He could have been saved if there had been a deal in time,” she wrote of her brother on Facebook. “But our leadership are cowards, motivated by political considerations, and thus it did not happen.”

About 100 hostages are still being held by Palestinian militants in Gaza, according to the Israeli authorities; over 30 others are now presumed dead.

The Israeli military said that Mr. Katzir’s body had been recovered by troops in Khan Younis, a city in the southern part of Gaza where the Israeli army has been operating since December. Around 8 p.m. on Friday night, Israeli forces arrived in southern Khan Younis, isolated the area and excavated his body from where he was buried underground, the military official said.

Forensic pathologists in Israel confirmed his identity, and officials then informed his family, the military said. Mr. Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman, told reporters that he had spoken with Mr. Katzir’s sister after she posted her message on Facebook and expressed his condolences and an understanding of the urgency of the hostage situation.

Islamic Jihad had released at least two videos of Mr. Katzir, a farmer who was born in Nir Oz. He was last seen in a video released in early January, in which he said he had been held for more than 90 days and described hearing on the radio of the death of a close friend from Nir Oz.

Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted on social media that Mr. Katzir was also a Polish citizen and conveyed its “deepest condolences” to family and friends. “May he rest in peace,” the post stated.

Over the past several weeks, Israel and Hamas have resumed indirect negotiations over a possible cease-fire and the release of at least some hostages. Hamas said in a statement on Telegram on Saturday that a delegation of its leadership would travel to Cairo on Sunday for further negotiations.

On Friday, President Biden sent messages to the leaders of Egypt and Qatar — who act as intermediaries between Hamas and Israel — urging them to increase pressure on Hamas to make a deal. He has pressed Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to do the same.

Israeli leaders have insisted that continued “military pressure” on Hamas will force the group to come to the table. The families of many of the hostages, fearing that their loved ones could be killed by their captors or by errant Israeli fire, have demanded more immediate action.

“Your story shouldn’t have ended like this,” Ms. Katzir wrote of her brother on Facebook on Saturday. “I’m sorry we couldn’t save you,” she wrote, adding, “I love you forever.”

Ephrat Livni contributed reporting.

— Aaron Boxerman

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Israel and its military are on alert, awaiting a promised strike by Iran.

Israelis anxiously wondered on Saturday when and how Iran might respond to an Israeli strike in Syria that killed several senior Iranian commanders this week, as Iranian leaders vowed retribution and Israel placed its military on high alert and mobilized additional air defense units.

The Israeli attack on an Iranian Embassy building in Damascus on Monday killed Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a top commander in Iran’s Quds Force, and several other commanders and senior officers. Israel has not publicly taken responsibility for the strike, but several Israeli officials confirmed its involvement to The New York Times.

Almost immediately, Iran’s leaders pledged that the strike would not go unpunished, a threat that was reiterated at funerals for several of the commanders and officers on Friday and Saturday in Iran, where large crowds of mourners and senior military officials gathered.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, responsible for the security of Iran’s borders, called an attack against Israel “a national demand” in a statement issued Saturday. And Brig. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, the commander in chief of Iran’s armed forces, said Saturday that Iran would “determine the time, place and method of the operation.” He added that the attack would be designed to inflict “maximum damage on the enemy to make it regret its action.”

American officials in Washington and the Middle East said on Friday that they were bracing for possible Iranian retaliation. On Thursday, Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, held a “multi-front situational assessment” in tandem with Israel’s security chiefs, according to his office.

Analysts have cautioned that while both sides probably want to avoid full-blown war involving Iran, any miscalculation could spill over and lead to a broader escalation. Israel has been trading fire with Iran-backed militant groups for months, particularly the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, since the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 ignited the devastating war in Gaza.

Israel and Iran have been locked in a longstanding shadow war . Just this past December, Iran accused Israel of killing a high-level military figure, Brig. Gen. Sayyed Razi Mousavi , in a missile strike outside Damascus. A senior adviser to the Revolutionary Guards, General Mousavi was believed to have helped oversee the shipment of arms to Hezbollah. Israel, adopting its customary stance, declined to comment directly on whether it was behind the attack.

The Israeli military said this past week that it had scrambled GPS signals “in order to neutralize threats,” without elaborating. The jamming threw a wrench into commuters’ trips across central Israel, telling some users that they were in neighboring Lebanon.

Israeli combat soldiers expecting leave over the weekend have been ordered to remain deployed, the Israeli military said. And additional reserve units were called up to reinforce Israel’s air defense system.

“We have raised the readiness of combat units as needed, wherever it was necessary; we have reinforced our defense systems; and we have planes ready for defense and prepared to act in a variety of scenarios,” the Israeli military’s chief spokesman, Daniel Hagari, said on Thursday.

— Aaron Boxerman and Farnaz Fassihi

Night deliveries of aid in Gaza pose unusual challenges.

The seven staff members of World Central Kitchen killed in an Israeli attack on their convoy in Gaza on Monday were doing something unusual for aid workers in a conflict zone — driving at night.

They left a makeshift jetty on Gaza’s coast where they had been working on a delivery of food that had arrived by sea and were driving along the coast when Israeli missiles struck their vehicles shortly after 10 p.m., according to an Israeli military investigation. The sun had set more than four hours earlier.

The investigation said that the workers had coordinated their mission in advance with the Israeli military and there is no suggestion that they had breached protocols established in Gaza. The humanitarian community has a longstanding practice in most parts of the world of avoiding nighttime travel when possible because, after dark, the risks that threaten their staff during the day are heightened. Karyn Beattie, team leader in Gaza for Save the Children, said that her organization avoided travel at night given the heightened risks and standard aid agency policies.

However, aid groups say that, in coordination with Israeli authorities, they have begun traveling at night, in part to avoid desperate crowds and get aid to centers where it can be distributed more widely.

Denise Habash Hazboun, a senior official at the relief organization Anera, said most aid groups have preferred on occasion to deliver food after midnight because “people won’t be on the roads.” Sandra Rasheed, Anera’s country director, said that between midnight and 3 a.m. was the “optimal time.”

It was unclear whether food deliveries had continued at night since Monday’s deadly airstrikes.

Organizations that deliver food, including the World Food Program and the main U.N. agency that aids Palestinians, UNRWA, have operated at night in recent months. They always get permission from the Israeli authorities and give soldiers information about their location and travel plans.

Israel, too, has sent at least one convoy of food to northern Gaza at night.

In February, Israeli forces opened fire at night as a crowd gathered near a convoy of aid trucks in Gaza City . Scores were killed and injured, according to Gazan officials and the Israeli military, which attributed most of the deaths to a stampede.

Officials from both sides offered differing accounts, but the deaths in a part of Gaza where starvation is rampant reflected desperation and lawlessness.

The Gazan Health Ministry said in a statement that Israeli forces had killed more than 100 people and had injured 700 others in a “massacre,” as they waited for food from the convoy.

An Israeli military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said that Israeli soldiers fired warning shots in the air before firing “only in face of danger when the mob moved in a manner which endangered them.”

— Matthew Mpoke Bigg

Middle East latest: Iran warns 'tiniest' attack will spark 'fierce and painful response'; clear Israel will act, says Cameron

Iran's president has warned the "tiniest move" against the country would bring a "fierce" response during a speech at an annual army parade. Meanwhile, Lord Cameron is in Israel, where he will attempt to "limit" Benjamin Netanyahu's next move.

Wednesday 17 April 2024 12:17, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

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• Clear Israel will act in response to Iran attack, Cameron says
• US believes Israel 'planning narrow and limited strike inside Iran'
• 'Tiniest move' against Iran will spark 'fierce and painful' response, president warns
• Israel denied 'more than 40%' of UN aid delivery requests to northern Gaza last week
• Dominic Waghorn analysis: The coming hours could decide whether the Middle East is plunged into a widening war
• Michael Clarke analysis: All Israel's options for retaliation come with complications
• Live reporting by Brad Young

Israel's military offensive has now killed at least 33,899 Palestinians in Gaza, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory has announced.

Another 76,664 have been wounded since 7 October, the ministry said.

The updated figures come after 56 Palestinians were killed and 89 injured in the past 24 hours, it added.

The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its reports, but says most of those killed are women and children.

Ceasefire talks are at a "delicate phase", according to Qatar.

"We are trying as much as possible to address this stumbling block," said prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al Thani.

Qatar's premier condemned what he described as a policy of "collective punishment" pursued by Israel in its war against Hamas, and the latest escalation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. 

The ceasefire discussions, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, are continuing as a humanitarian crisis unfolds in Gaza, with severe shortages of food, medicine and hospital care.

Russia is in dialogue with both Iran and Israel, the Kremlin has said.

Moscow has urged both of the need for de-escalation, said spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

When asked if Tehran had warned Russia ahead of time about the strikes on Israel, Mr Peskov said he had nothing to say on the matter. 

He said Russia had close contacts with Iran and constructive contacts with Israel. 

The crew aboard a cargo ship seized by Iran on Saturday are safe, the vessel's operator has said.

There were 25 crew members aboard the MSC Aries when Iranian Revolutionary Guards commandos repelled from a helicopter on to the deck and steered the ship toward Iran.

MSC, which manages the Aires, said it was in discussion with Iranian authorities to secure their release and have the cargo discharged.

The Portuguese-flagged ship with links to Israel was hijacked while travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that separates Iran from Oman and the United Arab Emirates. 

Yesterday, Portugal's foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador to demand the immediate release of the vessel.

The hijacking came hours before Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel.

MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, which is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. 

Lord Cameron has met the president of Israel and the German foreign minister in Israel.

The British foreign secretary came out of the meeting telling reporters it was clear that Israel had decided to act in response to Iran's attack despite the UK's calls for restraint.

For his part, president Isaac Herzog thanked the UK and Germany for their "strong stand alongside Israel in the face of the reprehensible attack".

"The whole world must work decisively and defiantly against the threat posed by the Iranian regime which is seeking to undermine the stability of the whole region," Mr Herzog said.

Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel after a deadly suspected Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria.

"Israel is unequivocal in its commitment to defending its people," the president said.

Iran's navy is escorting Iranian commercial ships to the Red Sea, according to state media.

Navy commander Shahram Irani said the Jamaran frigate was present in the Gulf of Aden.

Tehran was ready to escort vessels of other countries, he added.

The Red Sea has seen significant disruption to Israel-bound shipping due to attacks from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis. 

On Saturday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized a Portuguese-flagged container ship linked to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz.

It is clear Israel is making a decision to act in response to Iran's attack, Lord Cameron has said.

Speaking from Israel, where he is meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, the foreign secretary said the UK hopes Israel's retaliation "does as little to escalate this as possible".

The UK wants to see "coordinated sanctions against Iran", he said, adding there is more the UK can do.

"It is right to show solidarity with Israel, it is right to have made our views clear about what should happen next, but it is clear the Israelis are making a decision to act.

"We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible and in a way that, as I said yesterday, is smart as well as tough."

He said the UK has sanctioned dozens of people in Iran and the entire Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, but there was "more that we can do to show a united front that Iran is behind so much of the malign activity in this region".

There was a "real need" to refocus on Gaza, including Hamas, the hostage crisis, getting aid into the territory and securing a pause in the conflict, said Lord Cameron.

Iran's president has warned the "tiniest move" against the country would bring a "fierce" response, state media reports.

"The smallest action against Iran's interests will definitely be met with a fierce, widespread and painful response against all its perpetrators," the Iranian president warned, according to Tasnim news agency.

President Ebrahim Raisi spoke at an annual army parade ahead of National Army Day tomorrow.

The parade was relocated to a barracks north of the capital, Tehran, from its usual venue on a highway in the city's southern outskirts, with no explanation given for the move.

State TV did not broadcast it live, as it has in previous years.

Italy has called on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza.

Antonio Tajani, the foreign minister, said it was time for a ceasefire.

In an interview with La Stampa, Mr Tajani stressed that the war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas's "barbaric" assault. 

He then added: "However, now a ceasefire is necessary. Israel must stop the military operations that have massively affected the Palestinian population."

The interview was conducted ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven which will be hosted by Mr Tajani.

The British foreign secretary has arrived in Israel for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu, as the prime minister considers his response to Iran's missile and drone attack.

Lord Cameron will attempt to "limit" Israel's next move - though there is some acceptance among Western governments that Israel will react, says our  Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall , reporting from Jerusalem.

"The question is what and how can that be limited to the extent that it doesn't create an even worse situation," he says.

He explains the foreign secretary will likely point to US diplomatic and economic punishments for Iran as evidence the West is assisting Israel, and try to use this as leverage to ensure Israel does not lead the region down the path of war.

The US has announced it will enact new sanctions against Iran's defence ministry, the Revolutionary Guards and the country's missile and drone programmes, and Bunkall says he would be surprised if the UK did not follow along those lines.

Lord Cameron told Sky News earlier this week that Israel should "think with head as well as heart".

"I think the smart thing to do is actually to recognise that Iran's attack was a failure and we want to keep the focus on that, on Iran's malign influence and actually pivot to looking at what's happening in Gaza," he said in an interview with Kay Burley.

The humanitarian and hostage crises in Gaza will also be an important part of the talks today, despite the world's focus on Iran, Bunkall adds.

Watch Lord Cameron's interview with Sky News below...

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Reporting by Federico Maccioni and Jana Choukeir in Dubai; Adam Makary and Muhammad Al Gebaly in Cairo; Editing by Alex Richardson, Sharon Singleton and Jan Harvey

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