Israel Orders US Refueling Planes Removed from Ben Gurion Airport to Military Bases

Following the US military's failure to reduce its refueling aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport and the addition of 12 more tankers, Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev instructed the Airports Authority to ban further landings of these planes at the airport. The Transport Ministry announced it reached an agreement with the US military to relocate most of the refueling planes from Ben Gurion, except for 20 tankers agreed upon in advance but previously exceeded by the US. The relocation is expected to be completed by July 21, with the departing tankers moving to Israeli Defense Forces bases allocated by the Ministry of Defense.

The Transport Ministry stated the move aims to maintain operational continuity while minimizing flight cancellations for Israeli civilians. The Airports Authority argued that the presence of the refueling planes disrupts airport operations by occupying parking spaces and receiving priority in ground and air services. They warned that failure to remove the tankers could result in the cancellation of tens of thousands of flight tickets.