Qatar stated flights are for World Cup fans and its position on Israel stays the same as both nations have no ties.
Published On 20 Nov 2022
The very first direct business flight in between Israel and Qatar landed in Doha ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening event, regardless of there being no diplomatic relations in between the nations.
International football’s governing body FIFA stated on November 10 that the unique direct flights had actually been validated, which Cyprus-based Tus Airways will be running them throughout of the month-long competition.
On Sunday, the head of Israel’s Public Diplomacy Directorate, Lior Haiat, stated at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv that “history has actually been made” with the “very first direct flight from Tel Aviv to Doha”.
First ever direct business flight in between Israel and Qatar simply left– taking fans to #WorldCup2022 #QatarWorldCup2022
it’s Cypriot Tus Airways 5b-ddl pic.twitter.com/tXpNpVCa6U
— avi scharf (@avischarf) November 20, 2022
FIFA declared that “Palestinian ticket holders and media” would be “able to take a trip on these chartered flights without any limitations”. It was not right away clear to what level Palestinian homeowners of the Israeli-occupied West Bank or blockaded Gaza Strip would have access to the charter.
The plan would be subject “to Israel’s security requirements”, FIFA stated.
Palestinian citizens, both in the West Bank and in Gaza, face extreme difficulties in taking a trip abroad. Palestinians in the West Bank normally take a trip from Jordan as access to Ben Gurion Airport is strictly limited. Those in Gaza do not have access to Israel or its airport, with extremely unusual exceptions.
One of the guests, Hadar Segal, 35, stated that the flight was a “unique and historical thing”.
He prepared to enjoy England play Israel’s enemy Iran, along with the match in between Argentina and Saudi Arabia, another Arab nation that does not identify Israel.
Israeli passport holders can generally just take a trip to Qatar on unique visas released for sports components or conferences. There are no existing direct flights in between the 2 nations.
Qatar has actually stressed that its position on normalising relations with Israel stays the same. It is connected to Palestinian statehood that is accomplished through a two-state service in accordance with the appropriate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Its neighbours, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, developed diplomatic ties with Israel under United States-brokered pacts in 2020.