42 US, Canada airlines suspend flights to Israel

A few people line up in the passport section for international arrivals at empty Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s only international airport, after many flights from abroad are cancelled due to the attacks launched by Palestinian factions in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 8, 2023. [Turgut Alp Boyraz – Anadolu Agency]

Some 42 American and Canadian airlines suspended their flights to Israel after the occupation state declared a state of war with the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip.

According to America’s ABC News, 42 airlines in the US and Canada suspended their flights and evacuated their employees from Israel as events escalated.

The network cited the US State Department as saying that it had advised its citizens to be more cautious if they were travelling to Israel or the occupied West Bank due to “terrorism and civil unrest”, and it warned travellers not to travel to Gaza.

United Airlines said it had suspended operations to Israel, telling ABC news: “The safety of our customers and crew is our top priority. We are closely monitoring the situation and we are adjusting flight schedules as required.”

American Airlines also temporarily suspended operations, saying in a statement: “We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed.”

Yesterday, the union representing American Airlines pilots asked its members to “cease flight operations to Israel” amid conflict in the region.

Delta Air Lines cancelled its scheduled flights to and from Tel Aviv on Saturday, saying it’s working to “safely transport Delta people back to the US and will work with the US government as needed to assist with the repatriation of US citizens who want to return home.”

Travel traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv witnessed a state of chaos on Saturday due to the cancellation of flights and the postponement of others, both arriving and departing.

At dawn on Saturday, the Gaza-based resistance launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel in the early hours of Saturday morning, firing a barrage of rockets and infiltrating towns around the besieged enclave.

In retaliation, the Israeli military bombarded the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Sunday, razing to the ground many high-rise buildings.

At least 700 Israelis have been killed and over 2,300 others wounded in the attacks, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.

In retaliation, the Israeli army initiated Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 493 Palestinians and wounding at least 2,751 others.

Read: 81 Greek nationals return home from Israel, Palestinian territories

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