CAIRO, July 23: Secretary of State John Kerry has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that a US ban on flights to Israel was solely due to safety concerns.
Kerry, in Cairo to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, yesterday told Netanyahu by telephone that US authorities would review the order within a day, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
The notice “was issued to protect American citizens and American carriers,” Psaki said in the Egyptian capital.
“The only consideration in issuing the notice was the safety and security of our citizens,” she said.
The US Federal Aviation Administration “continues to monitor and evaluate the situation, and will issue updated guidelines no later than 24 hours from the time the (notice) went into force,” she said.
The US agency barred US carriers from flying to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport for 24 hours after a rocket from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip landed near the aviation hub.
Major European carriers also suspended service to Israel’s main international gateway for at least 24 hours, all citing safety concerns.
Earlier in Washington, State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf denied that the move was a tactic aimed at pressuring Israel to accept a ceasefire in the two-week conflict.
Kerry is hoping to persuade Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire after the conflict has killed more than 630 Palestinians and 29 Israelis. (AGENCIES)
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