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Reuters
07-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
EU urges Israel to lift Gaza blockade, warns against new aid delivery plan
High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas visits Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, in Jerusalem, March 24, 2025. REUTERS/Nir Elias/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab BRUSSELS, May 7 (Reuters) - The European Union renewed an urgent call on Wednesday for Israel to immediately lift the blockade on Gaza, allowing humanitarian aid to reach those in need, and warned against Israel's planned new aid delivery mechanism "As the occupying power, Israel is obliged under international law to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the population in need," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, and Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica in a joint statement. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Advertisement · Scroll to continue The statement also urged a ceasefire and the immediate release of hostages, while expressing concern over a new aid delivery system approved by Israel on May 4. The statement said the new system undermined humanitarian principles by outsourcing aid distribution to non-humanitarian actors and private security firms — a move criticized by the U.N. and aid groups. Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by William Maclean Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Share X Facebook Linkedin Email Link Purchase Licensing Rights
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Airlines suspend flights to Israel after Houthi attack on airport
A security personnel stands at the entrance of Ben Gurion Airport following a missile attack launched from Yemen, in Tel Aviv, Israel May 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nir Elias Airlines suspend flights to Israel after Houthi attack on airport Some global airlines have again halted their flights to and from Tel Aviv after a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels towards Israel on Sunday landed near the country's main international airport. Foreign airlines had begun to resume flights to Israel after a ceasefire deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas in January. Many carriers had halted them for much of the last year and a half since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Below are carriers that have again cancelled their flights after Sunday's attack: AEGEAN AIRLINES The Greek airline said it would cancel its flights to Tel Aviv on May 5 and May 6. AIR EUROPA The Spanish airline cancelled its flights to and from Tel Aviv until May 7. AIR FRANCE-KLM The group's Dutch arm KLM suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv until May 30. Air France had cancelled flights on May 4. AIR INDIA The Indian flag carrier said that flights to and from Tel Aviv would remain suspended until May 6. DELTA AIR LINES The U.S. carrier said its flights to and from Tel Aviv may be impacted between May 4 and May 11. ITA AIRWAYS The Italian carrier decided to suspend flights to and from Tel Aviv until May 6. LUFTHANSA GROUP The German airline group decided to suspend its flights to and from Tel Aviv through May 11. RYANAIR Europe's biggest budget airline cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv from May 4 to May 6. UNITED AIRLINES The Chicago-based airline said its flights to and from Tel Aviv may be impacted between May 4 and May 11. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Japan Today
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Missile fired by Yemen's Houthis lands near Israel's main airport
Emergency personnel work at the site a missile attack, launched from Yemen, at the entrance of Ben Gurion Airport, in Tel Aviv, Israel May 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nir Elias By Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels towards Israel on Sunday landed near the country's main international airport, causing panic among passengers and drawing threats of retaliation against the group and Iran. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strike that struck near Ben Gurion Airport, the latest in a string of attacks, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate. "Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters," Netanyahu said on X. In a separate video issued by his office, Netanyahu said: "We will do what we need to do to take care of our security, to respond effectively, and to give Iran due warning that this cannot continue." Houthis said in a statement later on Sunday that they would impose "a comprehensive aerial blockade" on Israel by repeatedly targeting its airports, in response to Israel expanding its "aggressive" operation in Gaza. Most attacks from Yemen have been intercepted by Israel's missile defence systems, though a drone strike hit Tel Aviv last year. Sunday's missile was the only one of a series launched since March that was not intercepted. Later on Sunday, the Israeli military concluded an assessment and cited a technical issue with the interceptor launched toward the missile. "Initial findings reveal no malfunction in the detection procedure, interception systems, or Homefront Command alert mechanisms," the army added in a statement. U.S. STRIKES ON HOUTHIS A Reuters reporter at the airport heard sirens and saw passengers running towards safe rooms. Several people posted videos showing a plume of black smoke visible behind parked aircraft and airport buildings. Pictures showed a nearby road scattered with dust and debris. The Israeli ambulance service said eight people were taken to hospital for mild to moderate injuries. An Israeli police commander, Yair Hetzroni, showed reporters a crater caused by the impact of the missile, which airport authorities said landed beside a road near a Terminal 3 parking lot. The airport lies near the major city of Tel Aviv. "You can see the scene right behind us here, a hole that opened up with a diameter of tens of meters and also tens of metres deep," Hetzroni said, adding that there was no significant damage. Claiming responsibility, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said Israel's main airport was "no longer safe for air travel." The Israel Airports Authority said normal operations had resumed, after reports of air traffic being halted and access routes to the airport being blocked. However, a string of airlines including Lufthansa, Delta, ITA Airways and Air France said they had cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, some of which had been scheduled for Monday or Tuesday. Sunday's strike came as Israeli ministers were reported to be close to signing off on plans to expand the military operation in Gaza, which resumed in March following a two-month truce, prompting the Houthis to hit Israel with more missiles. Efforts to revive the ceasefire have faltered, and U.S. President Donald Trump in March ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to reduce their capabilities and deter them from targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The strikes have killed hundreds of people in Yemen. "The U.S. military continues its operation against the Houthis, which has included over 1,000 strikes against these terrorists and we will continue to coordinate with the Israeli government through diplomatic channels," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt said in an email to Reuters. "The Trump administration remains committed to ending the Houthis' capabilities to hijack freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.' He did not directly address the airport incident. The Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, began targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping in late 2023, during the early days of the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip. The war was triggered by Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Israel's offensive on Gaza has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians and destroyed much of the enclave. © (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025.
Ya Libnan
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Flights halted to Tel Aviv after Israel failed to intercept a missile that landed near airport
Israeli police officers investigate a crater at the site of a missile attack, launched from Yemen, near Ben Gurion Airport, in Tel Aviv, Israel May 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nir Elias JERUSALEM – European and U.S. carriers cancelled flights for the next several days after a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday landed near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, the country's main international travel gateway. Many foreign airlines subsequently suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv after the missile hit, sending a plume of smoke into the air and causing panic among passengers in the terminal building. Following a ceasefire deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas in January, foreign carriers had begun to resume flights to Israel after halting them for much of the last year and a half since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Earlier, flights from Tel Aviv on Delta and United on Sunday morning departed about 90 minutes late. ITA said it had cancelled flights from Italy to Israel through Wednesday, while Air France cancelled flights on Sunday, saying customers were transferred to flights on Monday. TUS flights to and from Cyprus were cancelled through Monday, while Air India flights from New Delhi were halted on Sunday. Ryanair suspended flights on Sunday but flights are still scheduled for Monday, according to the Israel Airports Authority. Wizz also halted flights. 'I'm afraid it's going to be very difficult to go back to France because all European carriers, from what I see on the information (board), have cancelled. Lufthansa have cancelled, Swiss have cancelled, Brussels (Airlines), so no connection is possible,' said Michael Sceemes, 56, whose Air France flight was cancelled. Aegean, flydubai and Ethiopian did not cancel flights. El Al said it would reintroduce rescue flights to Israel from Larnaca and Athens for passengers stranded by foreign carriers at a cost of $99 and $149, respectively. Udi Bar Oz, head of Ben Gurion Airport, said the airport was up and running less than 30 minutes after the missile hit a road nearby. Claiming responsibility for the strike, the Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said Israel's main airport was 'no longer safe for air travel'. The Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, began targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping in late 2023, during the early days of the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Donald Trump in March ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to deter them from targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond to the Houthis. 'We attacked in the past, we will attack in the future … There will be more blows,' he said. Reuters
Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Flights again halted to Israel after Houthi missile lands near airport
Israeli police officers investigate a crater at the site of a missile attack, launched from Yemen, near Ben Gurion Airport, in Tel Aviv, Israel May 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nir Elias TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Flights again halted to Israel after Houthi missile lands near airport JERUSALEM - European and U.S. carriers cancelled flights for the next several days after a missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday landed near Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport, the country's main international airport. Many foreign airlines subsequently suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv. Following a ceasefire deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas in January, foreign carriers had begun to resume flights to Israel after halting them for much of the last year and a half, although with less capacity and frequency. That left flag carrier El Al Airlines - along with smaller rivals Arkia and Israir - with a near monopoly, full flights and higher air fares. Delta Air Lines said it had cancelled Sunday's flight from JFK in New York to Tel Aviv and the return flight from Tel Aviv on Monday. United, though, had yet to cancel its flights from Newark. Flights from Tel Aviv on Delta and United departed about 90 minutes late. Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels and Austrian, said it had halted flights to and from Tel Aviv through Tuesday due to the current situation. ITA said it had cancelled flights from Italy to Israel through Wednesday, while Air France cancelled flights on Sunday, saying customers were transferred to flights on Monday. TUS flights to and from Cyprus were cancelled through Monday, while Air India flights from New Delhi were halted on Sunday. Ryanair suspended flights on Sunday but flights are still scheduled for Monday, according to the Israel Airports Authority. Aegean, flydubai and Ethiopian did not cancel flights. Udi Bar Oz, head of Ben Gurion Airport, said the airport was up and running less than 30 minutes after the missile hit a road nearby. He said the airport and Transportation Minister were providing information to carriers to minimize damage to flight schedules in the coming days. Claiming responsibility for the strike that sent a plume of smoke into the air and caused panic among passengers in the terminal building, the Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said Israel's main airport was "no longer safe for air travel". The Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, began targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping in late 2023, during the early days of the war between Hamas and Israel in the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Donald Trump in March ordered large-scale strikes against the Houthis to reduce their capabilities and deter them from targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond to the Houthis. "We attacked in the past, we will attack in the future ... There will be more blows," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
