Tata-owned airline major Air India on Friday announced the suspension of scheduled operation of flights to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect up to and including August 8 amid the escalating tension in the region.

" In view of the ongoing situation in parts of the Middle East, we have suspended scheduled operation of our flights to and from Tel Aviv with immediate effect up to and including 08 August 2024," Air India posted on X.

"We are continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our passengers with confirmed bookings for travel to and from Tel Aviv during this period, with a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges. Safety of our guests and crew remains our foremost priority," Air India said.

 Ever since the October 7 attack by Hamas members on Israel, tension has prevailed over a part of the Middle East.

In recent times situation has further deteriorated in the relationship between Hezbollah group and Israel.

 Israel's army confirmed on Thursday that Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif was killed in an airstrike last month in the southern Gaza Strip, AFP reported.

The announcement followed reports from Hamas and Iran that the Palestinian movement's chief, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran, though Israel has not commented on that claim.

"Mohammed Deif, the Osama bin Laden of Gaza, was eliminated on July 13," said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

The army stated that fighter jets had struck Khan Yunis on July 13 and, based on intelligence, confirmed that Deif was killed in the strike.

Deif was killed along with one of his top commanders, Rafa Salama, the report said, citing the military.

Health authorities in Hamas-controlled Gaza reported that more than 90 people were killed in the strike, but Hamas has denied that Deif was among them.

In May, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested an arrest warrant for Deif, along with Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran, was also on that list.

The prosecutor has also sought warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

During the October 7 attack, Hamas operatives captured 251 people, with 111 still being held in Gaza, including 39 whom the military says are deceased.

Since then, Israel's military campaign has resulted in the deaths of 39,480 people in Gaza, according to the territory's health ministry, which does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties.

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