1st flight from Israel carrying 212 Indians stranded in Israel arrived in Delhi on Friday morning. The flight took off on Thursday night from the Ben Gurion airport under operation Ajay and the passengers were chosen on a ‘first come first serve’ basis.
Earlier, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi addressed the media on Thursday, October 12, regarding Operation Ajay and Government of India’s attempt to facilitate return of its citizens from Israel, who wish to return to the country.
“As announced by EAM yesterday, Operation Ajay has been launched to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to come back. The first charter flight will be reaching Tel Aviv later tonight to pick up the Indian citizens and is likely to return to India tomorrow morning…,” he said.
The MEA Spokesperson informed that the first charter flight will that leave for Tel Aviv tonight, October 12, is expected to get 230 passengers onboard. He also said that India has all the options, but the role of IAF in the evacuation can’t be ruled out, with the Government of India launching ‘Operation Ajay’.
Informing of the Indian casualties, Spokesperson Bagchi said, “We haven’t heard of any casualty so far,” says MEA spokesperson on conflict in Israel. He also informed about the situation of the Kerala woman reportedly injured in Hamas attack in Israel. “We are aware of that case. The person is in hospital and improving. We haven’t heard of any casualty so far,” he said.
There are around 18,000 Indians are in Israel, as per the Ministry of External Affairs. MEA Spokesperson issued advisory for the Indians and said, “There is conflict going on and it is a matter of concern. Indians advised to follow advisories issued by our mission.”
The MEA Spokesperson also said, “There is a universal obligation to observe international humanitarian law. There is also a global responsibility to fight the menace of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
On October 11, the Union Ministry of External Affairs announced ‘Operation Ajay’ to facilitate the return of Indian citizens from Israel. Union Minister for External Affairs, Dr. S Jaishankar shared that special charter flights and other necessary arrangements are being coordinated to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens.
‘Operation Ajay’ comes as around 18,000 Indians are currently in Israel many of whom are in the conflict zones. The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv was getting continued requests from Indians including tourists, who wanted an exit from the country after Hamas-backed terrorists barged into Israeli territory and started their onslaught against civilians. The announcement has come days after Air India suspended its service in the Delhi-Tel Aviv route as Hamas carried out a crippling attack on Israel last Saturday.
Earlier, the Ministry had also informed that a 24-hour Control Room has been set up at the Embassy of India in Israel. In addition, 24-hour emergency helplines have been set up to monitor the situation and provide information and assistance.
This will be the second evacuation this year, after Operation Kaveri that brought back several thousand Indian citizens from conflict-torn Sudan in April-May.