The first direct flight between Israel and Qatar landed in Doha on Sunday, with Israel describing it as a major milestone in the two countries’ ties.
According to flight tracker FlightRadar24, the flight from Tel Aviv to Doha touched down on Sunday afternoon in advance of the World Cup opening ceremony.
Though Israel and Qatar at present have no official diplomatic ties, the flight has been praised by Israel and the United States as an example of warming relations.
At least 10,000 Israelis are expected at the month-long tournament in Qatar, most of them coming from third countries.
Those boarding the Cyprus-based TUS Airways plane at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, had originally been told they would have a brief stopover in Cyprus.
On Sunday, the head of Israel’s Public Diplomacy Directorate, Lior Haiat, said at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv that “history has been made” with the “first direct flight from Tel Aviv to Doha”.
FIFA stated that “Palestinian ticket holders and media” would be “free to travel on these chartered flights.”
However, it was unclear how far Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank or the blockaded Gaza Strip would be able to access the charter. FIFA stated that the agreement would be subject to “Israel’s security requirements.”
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