British Airways cancels all flights to Israel for 'safety and security'

has extended its suspension of flights to amid ongoing regional security concerns. is among a number of airlines that have cancelled its services to and from Israel amid reports of Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting Ben Gurion Airport in missile strikes.

The Iran-backed group have for months been trading fire with in solidarity with , the terror group that has run Gaza for decades and is at war with . Ben Gurion Airport is Israel's main international airport, located around 12 miles southeast of Tel Aviv, and 28 miles northwest of the capital, Jerusalem.

has now confirmed that flights to the country will be grounded until at least August.

A spokesperson said: "The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our priority.

"We continually monitor operating conditions and have made the decision to suspend our flights to and from Tel Aviv, up to and including 31 July.

"We've apologised to our customers for the inconvenience."

It comes as Israel presses ahead with a new military offensive in Gaza, following the collapse of a ceasefire between the two sides in March.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) invasion of Gaza was launched in response to Hamas' terror attack in Israel on October 7, 2023, that saw some 1,200 killed and around 250 taken hostage.

More than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict that has followed, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, and a humanitarian crisis in the enclave has brought mounting international pressure on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

The strip has been under an Israeli blockade for nearly three months, according to the United Nations. Experts have warned that many of Gaza's 2 million residents are at high risk of famine.

Earlier this week UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Candadian PM Mark Carney issued one of the most significant criticisms by close allies of Israel's handling of the war in Gaza and its actions in the West Bank, threatening to take "concrete actions" if the government did not cease its renewed military offensive and significantly lift restrictions on humanitarian aid.

The UK has suspended trade talks, summoned the Israel's ambassador and unleashed new sanctions on West Bank settlers in response to the escalation.

Israel's foreign spokesman insisted pressure from allies would "not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence".

In a statement on Thursday, Netanyahu said that by "issuing their demand, replete with a threat of sanctions against Israel - against Israel, not Hamas - these three leaders effectively said they want Hamas to remain in power".