US suspends flight over Tel Aviv over fear of rocket attacks

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) renewed its ban on three US carriers - Delta, United and US Airways - for a further 24 hours.

Meanwhile, three French and German airlines cancelled more flights to Tel Aviv amid ongoing safety concerns.

Air France said it was suspending such flights "until further notice".

The FAA first imposed the ban on Tuesday, extending it further on Wednesday citing "potentially hazardous situation" in Israel and Gaza.

German carriers Lufthansa and Air Berlin also extended their flight cancellations until Thursday.

Lufthansa said its decision to cancel flights also applies to its subsidiaries including Germanwings, Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines.

The initial US flight suspension prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ask US Secretary of State John Kerry for help lifting the FAA ban.

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg flew on Israeli airline El Al to Tel Aviv on Tuesday night to "show solidarity with the Israeli people and to demonstrate that it is safe to fly in and out of Israel".

On Tuesday, Israel's transportation ministry said: "Ben Gurion Airport is safe and completely guarded and there is no reason whatsoever that American companies would stop their flights and hand terror a prize."