India Launches 'Operation Ajay' to Bring Home Stranded Citizens from Israel

NEW DELHI: India announced the initiation of "Operation Ajay" on Wednesday, aimed at facilitating the return of Indian citizens from Israel who wish to come back home. The decision comes in the wake of a series of bold attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas militants over the weekend, leading to escalating tensions in the region. Israel has already launched a significant military offensive in response to the attacks.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is currently on a visit to Sri Lanka, took to social media to announce the launch of "Operation Ajay." He stated, "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. We are fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad."

The first group of Indian citizens is expected to be repatriated from Israel via a special flight on Thursday. Following Jaishankar's announcement, the Indian embassy in Israel confirmed that they had sent e-mails to the first batch of registered Indian citizens, notifying them of the special flight on Thursday. Additional messages for other registered individuals will be dispatched for subsequent flights.

Estimates suggest that approximately 18,000 Indians are currently residing in Israel.

The recent series of attacks by Hamas militants from Gaza on Israel, along with Israel's retaliatory measures, have resulted in a significant loss of life. The Israeli authorities reported that over 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, have lost their lives in Israel, while the Palestinian side reported a death toll of 950 in Gaza.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar also discussed the "crisis" in the West Asia region with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He shared the conversation, stating, "Spoke to Foreign Minister @ABZayed of UAE this evening. Discussed the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Agreed to stay in touch."

In response to the escalating situation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has established a round-the-clock control room in Delhi and separate emergency helplines in Tel Aviv and Ramallah. These measures aim to monitor the situation in Israel and Palestine while providing information and assistance to Indian citizens affected by the situation.

The control room in Delhi can be reached through the following phone numbers: 1800118797 (toll-free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905, and +919968291988. The control room's e-mail ID is situationroom@mea.gov.in.

In light of the ongoing developments in Israel and Palestine, the Indian embassy in Israel has issued an advisory, urging Indian citizens in Israel to remain vigilant and adhere to safety protocols recommended by local authorities.

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