On Sunday, the first commercial flight from Israel to Qatar was opened in conjunction with the start of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, according to the Israel in the Gulf report from the Foreign Ministry.
The flight departed at 10:55 local time (8:55 GMT) from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport to Hamad International Airport. The flight belongs to the Cypriot company “Tusa Air” and has the number “U81162”.
On Friday, Cyprus Airways confirmed to France Press that it had received the green light from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority to operate six direct flights from Tel Aviv to Doha and six more in the opposite direction.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Hayat said “history has been made” with “the first direct flight between Tel Aviv and Doha”.
Two weeks ago, Qatar and Israel reached an agreement whereby a non-Israeli airline would fly between the two countries to transport Israeli fans as well as Palestinians to participate in the 2022 World Cup starting on Sunday, according to what was announced. Council of the International Football Association (FIFA).
Under the agreement, FIFA said: “Direct charter flights between Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and Hamad International Airport in Doha will be operated temporarily by an airline with existing landing rights in Qatar for the duration of the World Cup. with Israel’s security requirements and operational capabilities.” He noted that these trips will be available to both Israelis and Palestinians, provided they have a match ticket and a Haya card, which is considered a visa to enter Qatar.
According to a FIFA statement, “consular services will be provided to Israeli citizens in coordination with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a private international travel company based in Doha.”
“The historic announcement made today provides a platform for improving relations in the Middle East,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said last week.
Notably, Qatar established trade relations with Israel in 1996. However, in 2000, the Israeli trade office in Doha was closed, and relations between the two countries were severed in 2009 due to the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip.
Qatar provides significant financial support to the Gaza Strip and has long been considered an intermediary between Israel and the ruling Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, which Israel classifies as a terrorist organization.
It wasn’t immediately clear how far West Bank and Gaza residents could get to Ben Gurion Airport just off the Tel Aviv coast.
Palestinians from the West Bank usually travel abroad through Jordan, and Israel and some residents of the Gaza Strip allow them to use their airport, with very few exceptions and severe restrictions.
For his part, Israeli fan Hadar Sehgal (35) described the boarding as “special and historic”.
Seagal said he plans to attend the England-Iran match, which is considered Israel’s sworn enemy, as well as the Argentina-Saudi Arabia match, he said.
Hayat reiterated advice to Israelis to act prudently while they are in Qatar, stressing that the foreign ministry “will work to ensure that fans behave in accordance with local traditions and laws to prevent any problems.”
