News - Middle East: Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Indian Airlines will resume flights to the occupied Palestinian territories starting January 1, 2026, passing through Saudi airspace. The resumption follows a prolonged suspension caused by Yemeni-imposed air restrictions, which had effectively enforced a long-term aerial blockade on Israeli airports.

Observers note that this development demonstrates the continued effectiveness of Yemeni aerial operations in constraining Israeli air mobility, while highlighting Saudi Arabia’s role in facilitating alternative routes for foreign carriers, effectively mitigating the impact of Yemen’s strategic restrictions.

The decision to route flights through Saudi airspace exposes a contrast in regional policies. While Yemen continues to maintain strategic aerial restrictions that limit Israeli mobility, Riyadh is enabling foreign airlines to bypass these limitations, signaling a de facto alignment with Israeli interests. Analysts warn that this move may pave the way for further normalisation and cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the Israeli enemy.

“The resumption of flights without any return to previous constraints demonstrates the effectiveness of Yemen’s measures in imposing real strategic limitations on the enemy,” said a regional analyst.

Most international airlines have yet to resume flights to Israeli airports or announce precise timelines for re-entering Palestinian airspace, underscoring the significance of Yemen’s operational leverage.

Observers interpret the Indian-Saudi agreement as part of a broader trend of commercial, tourism, and economic normalisation between Riyadh and the Israeli enemy. The early scheduling of flights — two months prior to the official resumption date — coincides with an escalation of Saudi initiatives to support the entity, including the announcement of a Saudi-led maritime coalition to "protect Red Sea navigation."

This coalition is seen as directly undermining Yemeni maritime measures that have restricted Zionist supply chains and maintained a blockade of key ports in occupied Palestine. Critics argue that Saudi Arabia’s prioritisation of economic and political ties with the Zionist entity comes at the expense of regional resistance efforts and undermines solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Yemen has consistently imposed air and maritime restrictions on the Israeli enemy access as part of a broader strategy to enforce regional deterrence. These measures have significantly disrupted Zionist logistics and mobility in the region, compelling the entity to seek alternative solutions. The current resumption of flights via Saudi airspace highlights the reliance of Israeli authorities on Gulf-based facilitation, demonstrating both the limitations of Zionist autonomy and the geopolitical influence of Gulf states in shaping regional air routes.