War clouds on two fronts, Israelis abroad are rushing home to defend their nation

“When I saw the images and heard about the news of the attacks, I just couldn’t sleep. Although I was thousands of kilometres away, I wanted to be with my brothers, fighting against Hamas,” Nachmani told The Indian Express.

And the moment he got a call from the unit where he had served, the couple decided to return home.

And while they planned their return — not many flights were available for the passage to Israel — Nachmani, without wasting time, began mobilising people over WhatsApp to coordinate supply of food, essential equipment. Till the time he got a flight connection via Addis Ababa a week later, he worked the phone to mobilise deliveries to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Almost every day since last Sunday, Israelis, mostly in the working age group up to 50 years, are returning to the country. (Express photo)

A founder of a tech startup, who did not wish to be identified, was vacationing in Brazil with his partner when he too got a call from his unit, a few days after the attack. They left for Tel Aviv and landed Sunday morning.

“I am good with the tech side of things, and my mates reached out to me for cyber warfare, which is part of the toolkit to respond,” the tall young man, in his early 30s, said.

Noa, a psychologist, also returned to Tel Aviv Sunday to help. “This country needs all of us to come together at this hour of need and crisis, so I came back,” she said.

The IAF personnel, the techie and the psychologist are among the growing number of men and women rushing back to their homeland to defend it.

This rush by Israelis to get into the country is one feature of this conflict that stands out – most foreigners, including some Indians, are rushing to get out of the country. So far, more than 900 Indians have returned on four special flights arranged by the Indian government under Operation Ajay.

Around 3 am Sunday, when these Israeli citizens landed in Tel Aviv, bleary-eyed after hours of flying yet yearning to be home, their anxious families, and some complete strangers, welcomed them with open arms.

A group of young boys and girls, waved Israeli flags, clapped, sang and cheered the homecoming. Yael, a 16-year-old, said, “They have come back to help the war, so we are here to encourage them and appreciate them.” He and his friends were part of the young and boisterous crowd receiving these men and women.

Over the past week or so, the IDF has asked volunteers and reservists to come and join their units and help the war effort. Almost every day since last Sunday, Israelis, mostly in the working age group up to 50 years, are returning to the country. While the IDF gave the call to more than 3.5 lakh people, many have enthusiastically returned and joined in.

Most reservists were already in Israel at the time of the call, the largest such compulsory mobilisation since the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

But those who were out of the country cancelled their plans and have returned.

Over the past week or so, the IDF has asked volunteers and reservists to come and join their units and help the war efforts (Express photo)

All these men and women have done the mandatory military service during their youth.

Military service is compulsory for the majority of Israelis when they turn 18. Men have to serve 32 months and women 24 months.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat told The Indian Express, “Since last Saturday, many Israeli citizens around the world are looking for ways to come back to Israel. We know thousands have already arrived, and there are others who are waiting to come here and to be here to support us at this very difficult time.” Officials estimate that about 10,000 people have returned to join the war effort.

“We may have our differences with the current Israeli government on their policies, but right now we need to come together. The tough questions of failures need to be answered, but right now, the need of the hour is to defend and survive,” the tech startup founder said.

Noa said her WhatsApp groups of psychologists are just blowing up. “This is going to be a nation of PTSDs (post traumatic stress disorder)… We are all going to help out whoever needs help at this time, be it civilians or soldiers,” she said.

Israeli armoured vehicles near the Gaza border, Sunday. (AP)

Ori was more direct on what his part would be. “They (the Hamas) came for our women and children, we will not let them go unchallenged. We have to protect our families, so we will respond. It is our duty.”

Then there are mothers like Ricky Shay, an Indian-origin Jew in Israel. “I have two sons and two daughters… The sons have been called back to their combat units, they are just 24 and 25. We have to fight back.” Ricky is a second-generation Indian-origin Jew whose parents moved to Israel when they were young and she was born here.

The October 7 attacks by Hamas has led to massive mobilisation of resources — both in terms of personnel and equipment — across Israel.

The country is preparing for an all-out offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Israeli military said it would continue to let people of Gaza to evacuate to the Strip’s south – before it launches the ground assault.

As Iran sent a warning to Israel – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian met Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar’s capital Doha and, according to a Hamas statement quoted by news agency Reuters, “agreed to continue cooperation” while hailing the attack on Israel as a “historic victory” – Israel’s northern border saw its troops trading fire with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The US, meanwhile, is sending a second carrier strike group to the region, signalling to Iranian proxies in Lebanon and Syria not to widen the conflict. The USS Dwight D Eisenhower strike group will join the USS Gerald R Ford strike group in the Mediterranean waters near Israel, not far from Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.