A ban on flights to Israel from the U.S., Canada and Europe was lifted late Wednesday and Thursday.

The ban caused tension in the Israel-Palestine conflict since Israel was depending on the U.S. to be its ally and send a clear message of strength - the opposite of which was sent when the ban was placed, according to Sky News.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed for a reinstatement of flights and said the decision to place a ban gave Hamas a victory.

But the Federal Aviation Administration defended its actions, saying it was in the interest of protecting U.S. citizens.

The ban was the first since 1991 and was initially placed after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip struck about a mile from the airport Tuesday. An extension on the ban was announced Wednesday, but it was lifted just before midnight by the FAA. Europe and Canada soon followed suit, resuming their flights to Tel Aviv.

British Airways was the only airline to fly to Tel Aviv Wednesday, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Since Tuesday evening, 80 flights were canceled, and 209 were either scheduled or flew to Tel Aviv Wednesday.

When the ban was placed on Tel Aviv, Israel offered another airport in southern Israel -- Ovda Airport -- but none of the international carriers agreed to use it.

"We regret the decision of the U.S. FAA. We think it was inappropriate, even according to their own rules,'' Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz said Wednesday, according to the WSJ. "There was no reason to stop flights to and from Ben Gurion. The airport is safeguarded.'

"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," Katz said, according to BBC.

Most airlines have resumed flights, but others have not announced a decision yet.