Israel Palestine Gaza Hamas rockets Tel Aviv Lebanon
Fire-fighters tackle a blaze that broke out when a rocket hit a petrol station in the southern Israeli city of Ashdod Reuters

US airlines are banned from flying to Tel Aviv amid concerns over a rocket fired from Gaza that ended up near the Israeli city's Ben Gurion airport.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has outlawed all flights from the US to Tel Aviv for 24 hours. Delta, United Airlines and US Airways are the only American carriers that go to Ben Gurion.

"The notice was issued in response to a rocket strike which landed approximately one mile from Ben Gurion International Airport on the morning of July 22, 2014," said the FAA.

Meanwhile, Germany's Lufthansa said it was suspending all Tel Aviv flights for 36 hours, including those operated by subsidiaries Germanwings, Austrian Airlines and Swiss, to protect the safety of its passengers and crews.

And Air France has decided to suspend its flights until further notice for the same reason.

There has been a renewed and violent conflict between Israel and the Palestinian-controlled Gaza territory. Israeli troops have entered the Gaza Strip and heavily bombarded the area, leaving hundreds of civilians dead.

Hamas militants have fired rockets over the border at Israeli towns and cities, including Tel Aviv where warning sirens sound several times a day.

Delta said its flight 468, a Boeing 747 from JFK with 273 passengers and 17 crew, diverted to Paris-Charles de Gaulle "after reports of a rocket or associated debris near the airport in Tel Aviv".

Airlines are increasingly cautious following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine by it is believed pro-Russian rebels fighting for independence.

The rebels, who deny responsibility for the incident that claimed 298 civilian lives, have shot down several Ukrainian military planes in recent months.

The latest flare up between Israel and Gaza was sparked by the murders of three Israeli teenagers and the subsequent killings of Palestinian youths.

A spokesman for British Airways said they will continue to operate flights to Tel Aviv, but that customer and employee safety was its highest priority and it will closely monitor the situation.

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