In a remarkable effort to ensure the safety of its citizens amidst the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv has embarked on ‘Operation Ajay,’ facilitating the return of Indian nationals who wish to leave Israel. Following the brazen attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas militants from Gaza on October 7, fresh tensions have gripped the region.
After successfully evacuating more than 400 Indian nationals by Operation Ajay in just two consecutive days, the Indian Embassy has announced two additional special flights scheduled for October 14, further extending their support to those in need.
Operation Ajay Support Continues for Indians in Israel
The first of these flights is set to depart at 5:00 pm local time, with the capacity to carry 230 passengers, followed by a second flight at 11:00 pm local time, accommodating up to 330 passengers. These flights are a testament to the unwavering dedication of ‘Operation Ajay.’
Ambassador Sanjeev Singla emphasized, “The Embassy has been working tirelessly to facilitate the safe return of all our citizens in Israel who wish to leave. We have reached out to students, caregivers, and business people, and some of them have even volunteered to assist. We urge everyone to remain calm during these challenging times.”
The selection of passengers for these special flights is based on a “first come, first serve” basis, and the Indian government is generously covering the cost of their return. The Indian Embassy initiated a registration drive, inviting all Indian nationals to register in the mission’s database.
These special flights by Operation Ajay mark the third and fourth batches of Indians to be flown out of the Ben Gurion airport in response to Israel’s ongoing conflict with the Palestinian militant group, Hamas. The second batch, consisting of 235 Indian nationals, including two infants, was safely repatriated, reaching Delhi on a Saturday morning by Operation Ajay. The first charter flight, departing late Thursday evening, carried 211 adults and an infant and reached the Indian capital on Friday morning.
Approximately 18,000 Indian nationals, including caregivers, students, IT professionals, and diamond traders, call Israel their home. The voluntary departures were necessitated by the unprecedented attack launched by armed Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip, targeting Israel by land, air, and sea on October 7.
Since the initiation of these hostilities, the attacks have tragically claimed the lives of more than 1,300 people in Israel, while Israeli counter-airstrikes have resulted in the loss of at least 1,900 lives in Gaza. Israel has reported that roughly 1,500 Hamas militants were eliminated within its borders.
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