MANAMA - Bahrain announced on Thursday that its ambassador to Israel had returned home, while the Israeli ambassador in Manama had left the kingdom "a while ago", according to a statement by the parliament. While the government statement did not confirm the severing of economic ties, it did affirm that flights between the two countries had been suspended for several weeks.

The announcement by Bahrain's parliament, considered a consultative body with no power in foreign policy, coincided with the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel's recent bombardment of the Gaza Strip has sparked concern among Arab states due to the rising civilian casualties and the blockade of the densely populated coastal enclave.

Despite the parliamentary statement, Israel's foreign ministry maintained that its relations with Bahrain remained "stable" and that no official notification had been received in regards to any actions taken. The lack of clarity surrounding the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and the cessation of economic relations has introduced a degree of uncertainty into the situation.

If it is confirmed that diplomatic and economic ties with Israel have been suspended, it would be a significant setback for Israel, which had hoped the Abraham Accords - signed in 2020 - would pave the way for further normalization agreements with other Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia. Bahrain, as a signatory of the accords and home to the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, played a crucial role in facilitating the agreements.

Analysts have suggested that the warming of relations between Bahrain and Israel was driven, in part, by shared concerns about Iran. However, the ongoing conflict with Hamas has created obstacles for Israel's ambitions of expanding its normalization deals in the region.

Last month, Bahrain's finance minister, Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, emphasized the importance of building bridges during an investment conference in Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Bahrain's industry and commerce minister, Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, refrained from commenting on the status of trade and investment ties with Israel during a conference in Abu Dhabi in October.

The latest round of violence in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict was ignited when Hamas militants breached the border on October 7. Gaza health authorities report that the ensuing Israeli bombardment has resulted in the deaths of at least 9,601 people, including 3,760 children.

Bahrain, a small island nation in the Gulf, is governed by the Sunni Muslim Al Khalifa royal family over a majority Shi'ite population. Further developments regarding the state of Bahrain-Israel relations and the impact on regional dynamics are awaited as tensions continue to rise.