Operation Ajay: First batch of Indians return home from Israel


PTI, Oct 13, 2023, 9:02 AM IST

Image source: X / @DrSJaishankar

New Delhi: The first batch of around 200 Indians, including students, returned to the country from Israel onboard a chartered flight in the early hours of Friday.

India has launched Operation Ajay to facilitate the return of those who wish to come back home as a series of brazen attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas militants over the weekend triggered fresh tension in the region.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar welcomed the passengers at the Delhi airport as they streamed into the lounge area from the tarmac side. He greeted them with folded hands and also shook hands with many of them saying, ”Welcome home”.

Shashwat Singh, a post-doctoral researcher, who has been living in Israel since 2019, reached Delhi along with his wife.

”We woke up to sounds of air raids’ sirens. We stay in central Israel. I don’t know what shape this conflict will take… I am doing postdoc in agriculture there,” he told PTI.

The evacuation of Indians is a ”praiseworthy step”, Singh said soon after the flight landed. ”We hope peace will be restored and we will return to work… The Indian government got in touch with us via email. We are thankful to Prime Minister Modi and the Indian Embassy in Israel.” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said around 18,000 Indians are currently residing in Israel while about a dozen people are in the West Bank and three to four are in Gaza.

The multi-pronged attacks against Israel by Hamas militants from Gaza since Saturday and the subsequent Israeli retaliation have left around 2,600 people dead. Israel has launched a massive counter-offensive in Gaza to avenge the attacks by Hamas.

Suparno Ghosh, a West Bengal native and a first-year PhD student of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev at Beersheba in Israel, was among the group of Indians who reached Delhi on the special flight.

”We were in shelters… the Israeli government has made shelters everywhere, so we were safe,” he said.

Deepak, a student, said, ”We heard sirens on Saturday. As the attack happened, we could hear the sound. Israeli authorities were instructing us (to take safety measures). It was a continuous attack. I am happy to return home, but sad also, as our friends are there (in Israel),” he said.

But, the evacuation process was very smooth, the student told reporters.

Duti Banerjee, another West Bengal native who was also among the first batch of Indians evacuated from Israel, said the situation there was ”pretty messy and unsettled”.

”Normal life has been paused. People are scared and angry. Even when I was leaving, I heard sirens and had to go to a shelter,” she said.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Karnataka HC denies anticipatory bail to Prajwal Revanna in sexual harassment case

Delhi court stays defamation case against CM Atishi

Awards don’t create value for independent films in India: Manoj Bajpayee

Public Alert: Cyber fraudsters impersonating traffic police to demand fines

UP: 25 people booked for attacking civic officials for encroachment removal

SC transfers cheating case against choreographer Remo D’Souza to Delhi court

Fishing vessel collides with naval platform off Goa coast; 2 fishermen missing

Related Articles More

SC notice to Gyanvapi mosque committee on plea for ASI survey of ‘shivling’ area

Delhi court stays defamation case against CM Atishi

Sambhal Jama Masjid row: Friday prayers held peacefully amid tight security

Decide on disqualification petitions against BRS MLAs in reasonable time: HC

Court acquits MLA Bachchu Kadu in 2011 Mantralaya clerk slapping case

MUST WATCH

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar

Rose Cultivation

Geethotsava

Naxal Operation


Latest Additions

Voting only on caste-basis will hinder social change: CM Siddaramaiah

SC notice to Gyanvapi mosque committee on plea for ASI survey of ‘shivling’ area

Sony India bags ACC media rights for eight years

Siblings found dead under mysterious circumstances in Bengaluru

Karnataka HC denies anticipatory bail to Prajwal Revanna in sexual harassment case

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.