
220 Indians landed in Delhi after being repatriated from Israel on a special chartered flight as part of Operation Ajay on Friday morning
Operation Ajay was announced in the wake of the heightened conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The passengers were chosen on a "first come first serve" basis after the Indian embassy launched a drive for Indians to register on the mission's database
There was a long queue of Indians including students at the Israel airport to board the special flight
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 flight took off from Ben Gurion airport Thursday evening
Ayush Mehra who was pursuing his PHD in physics said he expects to return back within a month. He also said that the Indian embassy has been extremely helpful in facilitating easy and clear communication throughout the rescue operation. (Express photo by Upasika Singhal)
Aanchal Choudhary, who is pursuing a PhD in neuroscience, witnessed militants entering the city she lived in and engaging in combat with Israeli armed forces.