Newsletter
Newsletter Support JNS

Israel bans private flights and civilian drones due to war

The ban is intended to reduce the risk of pilots or drones being misidentified as hostile threats, according to Israel’s Civil Aviation Authority.

A drone, reportedly propelled by Hamas, brought down by the Israel Defense Forces near the Israel-Lebanon border on Jan. 4, 2021. Credit: IDF.
A drone, reportedly propelled by Hamas, brought down by the Israel Defense Forces near the Israel-Lebanon border on Jan. 4, 2021. Credit: IDF.

Israel has banned private flights and the use of civilian drones, the country’s Civil Aviation Authority and Transportation Ministry announced on Wednesday morning.

The statement said this was to reduce the risk of pilots or drones being misidentified as hostile threats.

The restriction does not apply to drone flights receiving special approval by the National Aviation Authority or the security establishment.

The Israel Defense Forces have reportedly increased GPS jamming near the borders of Gaza and Lebanon in an effort to foil Hamas and Hezbollah drone attacks.

The Hamas terrorist group has released footage of drones dropping bombs on sensors atop Israel’s Gaza security fence ahead of its Oct. 7 attack.

More than 70,000 Americans have returned to the United States from the Middle East since the Iran conflict began on Feb. 28.
“If this thing is growing, this inauthentic account is going to deceive more people,” Rep. Chris Smith told JNS. “Especially overseas, where there’s a language barrier or something.”
“We are now part of a process at the International Court of Justice initiated by Nicaragua,” Berlin said. “We have decided to focus on this process.”
“No more weapons to support an illegal war,” Sanders wrote on Thursday, setting up a vote that will largely gauge Democratic support for Israel.
“We are deeply grateful for speaker Julie Menin’s leadership, her presence and for standing up against antisemitism when it truly matters,” David Greenfield, CEO of the Met Council, told JNS.
“Obviously, our number one effort is geared towards Iran, but if the regime goes, you know that Hezbollah goes,” the Israeli prime minister told JNS at a live press conference in Jerusalem.