Palestinian official calls closure of Palestinian air space act of war

Palestinian official in charge of the civil aviation, Faiz Zaidane, said Israel's decision to close the Palestinian air space is an act of war that seeks to undermine the Gaza airport and the Palestinian air company.

In an interview with MAP, the Palestinian official said the closure is also inflicting significant losses to air companies servicing Palestine. He said the Palestinian air company has suffered five million dollars in losses in addition to indirect damages estimated at 3 million dollars to the Palestinian economy.

He added that the air space closure does not only paralyze air links with Arab states but also hinders relief operations for Palestinians injured as a result of Israeli aggressions.

For head of the Moroccan airport authority, Ahmed Biaz, who is also chairman of Arab airports union, the closure decision violates international civil aviation conventions. He also called the international civil aviation organization and the international airports union to condemn the Israeli decision to close the Palestinian air space.

Biaz stated that the construction of the Gaza international airport was the first step in the establishment of a Palestinian state, regretting that no similar moves were taken.