BA flight 165 had been due in Tel Aviv at 3.05pm local time, but the service was reportedly on its way back to Heathrow on Wednesday afternoon (11 October).

The BBC cited "security concerns" for the decision. "Safety is always our highest priority, and following the latest assessment of the situation, we’re suspending our flights to and from Tel Aviv," a BA spokesperson told TTG.

"We’re contacting customers booked to travel to or from Tel Aviv to apologise for the inconvenience and offer options including a full refund and rebooking with another airline or with British Airways at a later date. We continue to monitor the situation in the region closely."

It follows a severe escalation in tensions between Israel and the Hamas militant group, which launched a deadly assault on Saturday morning (7 October).

Israel has subsequently launched a major counter-offensive. Thousands of people are already understood to have died in the region since the weekend.

Several airlines have already suspended flights to Tel Aviv, including easyJet and Wizz Air.