Rescue Flights From Dubai Canceled Last Minute Due to Security Dispute

Rescue flights from Dubai are once again in question as the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) continues to demand the installation of X-ray scanners for luggage at Dubai Airport, a demand that the United Arab Emirates opposes. According to a report by Channel 12 News, flights scheduled for Monday have been canceled, and the dispute between the two sides threatens to escalate the crisis surrounding the return of Israelis stranded in the Emirates.

This tension is not new. The Israeli demand follows a serious security incident last week on a Flydubai flight. Following that incident, the airline's flights to Israel were suspended and later canceled indefinitely. In parallel, Israeli airlines began operating special rescue flights from Dubai under heavy security to bring stranded Israelis back to Israel. However, due to the current disagreement, the rescue flights planned for Monday will not depart at this time.

Prior to the Flydubai incident, security concerns had already arisen regarding the Dubai-Tel Aviv route. Israeli airlines had claimed the Shin Bet had not cleared them for landing in the UAE due to security risks, while foreign airlines like Flydubai and Etihad continued to operate the route.

Alongside the security crisis, a diplomatic confrontation has also developed between Israel and the UAE. An individual close to the Emirati government criticized Israel's conduct on Friday, stating that "the Emirates feel that before their eyes, the attack is being exploited for political purposes." He added, "Israel speaks of 'rescue flights' for Israelis, and this gives the impression that it is a country in a war or crisis, and that is not the situation." A Flydubai source further stated that the company requested to resume flights the following day but claimed they were "forced to cancel flights until October 15." Flydubai has indeed halted flights to Tel Aviv until further notice.