Flights resume at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport after staff strike

A sudden staff strike at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, the country's main international gateway near Tel Aviv, concluded at 3:00 p.m. local time on Thursday after disrupting the travel plans of approximately 100,000 passengers, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Workers halted all check-in counters at 2:00 p.m. local time, declaring a "crisis" due to operational difficulties, challenges loading and unloading aircraft, and a shortage of parking stands.

Flights were grounded at the same time, with the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) saying that the union-directed work disruptions affected airport operations and services to the traveling public.

Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev in a statement vowed that leaders of this "illegal strike" would "pay a heavy price." (With input from agencies)