International airlines extend suspension of flights to, from Israel

Several international airlines, on Friday, extended the suspension of their flights to and from Tel Aviv, as Israel raised its security alert amid escalating tensions with Iran, the Palestinian group, Hamas, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, Anadolu Agency reports.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, the Italian airline, ITA, has extended the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv until 13 August.

The Spanish airline, Vueling, also notified passengers of the cancellation of its flights to Israel until the end of October.

Additionally, the Indian airline, Air India, began sending notifications to its customers that it would extend its suspension of flights to Israel until the end of October as well.

As of Wednesday, the total number of foreign airlines that have suspended flights to and from Israel reached 20, according to the broadcaster.

Last week, Israel announced that it was raising its security alert level in response to potential retaliatory attacks from Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah.

The decision came after Israeli forces assassinated two important commanders, acknowledging the killing of Hezbollah Commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut but neither denying nor accepting the killing of Hamas’ Political Bureau chief, Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, in Iran’s capital, Tehran.

The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip which has killed nearly 39,700 people since last October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian Resistance group, Hamas.

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