On Friday Air India suspended flights to Israel’s Tel Aviv until August 8. ‘In view of the ongoing situation in parts of the Middle East, we have suspended the scheduled operation of our flights to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect up to and including 08 August 2024. We are continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Tel Aviv during this period, with a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges. The safety of our guests and crew remains our foremost priority. For more information, please call our 24/7 Contact Centre at 011-69329333 / 011-69329999”, the airline said in a tweet.
The cancellation comes against the backdrop of tensions in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the terror group Hamas. For the unversed, Air India operates four flights from Delhi to Tel Aviv every week.
Meanwhile, amid the threat of a possible Iranian attack on Israel following Hamas top leader Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Tehran, on Thursday United States President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ensuring his commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran, said the White House.
Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris also joined the call to assure Netanyahu of support, according to the media reports. ‘The president ensured his commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis’, said a readout of the call.
‘The president discussed efforts in order to support Israel’s defence against threats, including against ballistic missiles and drones, to include new defensive US military deployments’, it said.
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