On October 8, 2023, French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced that Air France had suspended all flights to Tel Aviv, Israel, following a rocket attack on the city by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The attack, which occurred on October 7, killed at least one person and injured several others.
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In a statement, Air France said that it was suspending flights to Tel Aviv "as a precautionary measure" due to the "current security situation." The airline added that it would resume flights "as soon as possible."
The suspension of Air France flights to Tel Aviv is a blow to the Israeli tourism industry, which has been struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Air France is one of the largest airlines that flies to Tel Aviv, and the suspension of its flights will make it more difficult for tourists to get to and from Israel.
The suspension of flights also comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and the Palestinians. In recent months, there has been a surge in violence between the two sides, with both sides carrying out attacks on each other. The decision by Air France to suspend flights to Tel Aviv is likely to be controversial. Some people have criticized the airline for giving in to terrorism, while others have defended the decision as a necessary safety measure.
