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On the sixth day of the Israel-Hamas war, the Indian government has launched ‘Operation Ajay‘ to repatriate Indians from Israel and Palestine.
Beginning Thursday (October 12), the government will bring back its citizens through special chartered flights. The Navy will also be pressed into action if the need arises, The Indian Express reported earlier. Around 18,000 Indians are in Israel and 17 in Palestine.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had announced the launch of the Operation in a post on X on Wednesday. “Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements (are) being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad,” he said.
The announcement came as Israel continued its strikes against Hamas militants in Gaza, in response to a brutal assault in Israel over the weekend. So far, 2,300 lives have been lost on both sides, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that Israel would “crush and destroy” all Hamas members.
The Indian government will be sending special chartered flights to repatriate citizens from Israel and Palestine. Indian Navy ships may also be sent if the need arises, the government has said.
The Indian Embassy in Israel, in a post on X on Wednesday, said it had emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow (Thursday). Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights, it added.
Around 18,000 Indians are currently in Israel. Of these, most of them are caregivers. There are also about 1,000 students, several IT professionals and diamond traders.
The Consul General of Israel to Midwest India, Kobbi Shoshani, on Thursday said, "There are around 18,000 Indian citizens in Israel, including 1,000 students who we love very much. The Indian business community that we love and respect so much contributes to our economy in a big way. Indian nurses and caregivers have become part of our families. The Israeli government is doing its utmost to assist the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv in 'Operation Ajay'."
At least 17 Indians are stranded in Palestine, which includes aid workers and those who went there for business.
Representative Office of India to the State of Palestine, Ramallah, on Wednesday shared a dedicated emergency helpline number for Indians in Palestine.
The MEA has set up a 24-hour control room to monitor the ongoing developments. The press release stated:
The contact details of the control room are as under:
1800118797 (Toll free)
+91-11 23012113
+91-11-23014104
+91-11-23017905
+919968291988
situationroom@mea.gov.in
In addition, Embassy of India in Tel Aviv has set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed as per contact details given below:
+972-35226748
+972-543278392
cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
Further, Representative Office of India in Ramallah has also set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed as per contact details given below:
+970-592916418 (also whatsapp)
rep.ramallah@mea.gov.in
Last year, as war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, the MEA had launched Operation Ganga to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. It also set up 24×7 control centres to assist in the evacuation of Indians through the border crossing points with Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic.
Around 22,500 Indian nationals were brought back from Ukraine to India between February 1 and March 11, a government press release said. As many as 90 flights were employed for the task, including 14 Indian Air Force flights.
Several countries have launched repatriation efforts for their citizens stuck in Israel and Palestine. In the United States, Delta Air Lines on Monday said it was working with the US government to bring back their citizens, a Reuters report said.
South Korea sent an empty plane to Israel and brought back 192 citizens from Tel Aviv to Incheon Airport. Italy sent seven flights between Tuesday and Wednesday, while France has organised a special Air France flight, set to take off on Thursday, to bring back its citizens. At least 5,000 Germans have registered with their government, seeking to leave Israel, the report said.
