Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Air India on Friday suspended the scheduled operation of their flights to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect till August 8. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Air India wrote, “In view of the ongoing situation in parts of the Middle East, we have suspended 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,” it further added. 

Earlier on Thursday evening, Air India cancelled a scheduled flight from New Delhi to Tel Aviv citing operational reasons. The tensions in the Middle East escalated ever since war broke out between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. More than 35,000 people have lost their lives in the ongoing war, which has had political ramifications for various nations in the Middle East including Iran, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. 

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The recent killings of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli air strike earlier this week in Beirut has further escalated tensions in the Middle East. Haniyeh’s killing has sparked calls for retaliation and fuelled fears of a widened conflict in the region.

Meanwhile, Iran has blamed Israel for Haniyeh's assassination and the country’s religious head Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for a direct attack on Tel Aviv. The ongoing tensions in the region have prompted several countries to tread with caution in the region. 

Haniyeh represented Hamas in the months-long peace talks mediated by Egypt and Qatar and was one of the prominent faces of the group's international diplomacy. Following Haniyeh’s death, Iran declared three days of national mourning and stated that the US was to blame for its backing of Israel. 

In a televised statement on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not make any mention of Haniyeh's death but said Israel had delivered crushing blows to Iran's proxies of late, including Hamas and Hezbollah, and asserted that Tel Aviv would respond forcefully to any attack. "We are prepared for any scenario and we will stand united and determined against any threat. Israel will exact a heavy price for any aggression against us from any arena," Netanyahu said.