External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar
India declared on Wednesday that it was launching Operation Ajay to begin the repatriation of its residents from Israel and Palestine on Thursday. As the Israel-Hamas conflict heated up, nations raced to bring back home their citizens who were caught up in the fighting or trying to flee the conflict area.
The Indian government would arrange special chartered flights to make it easier for Indian residents to return home. Ships from the Indian Navy will also be called upon if necessary.
External Affairs Minister posts about Operation Ajay on X
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a post on X, said, “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. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.”
The first batch of Indian people who had registered for the special flight on Thursday, according to the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv, had received emails. “Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights,” it stated.
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India UAE discussions
Additionally, on Wednesday night, Jaishankar met with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE’s foreign minister. “Discussed the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Agreed to stay in touch,” he tweeted. This was his first interaction with an Arab foreign minister since Hamas struck Israel on October 7 and killed several people, mostly civilians. Hamas has received criticism from Bahrain and the UAE over the attacks.
In the early hours of Wednesday, officials told the media that India has put “contingency” measures in place to evacuate its citizens from Israel and Palestine, including a limited number of Gaza inhabitants.
The Ministry of External Affairs established a 24-hour control room on Wednesday as Israel continued to bombard the Gaza Strip, which is governed by Hamas, with air strikes.
18000 Indians’ life in danger
About 18,000 Indian nationals reside, work, or study in Israel. A sizable portion of them are carers, but there are also roughly 1,000 students, a few IT specialists, and diamond traders among them.
The control rooms will evaluate the quantity of Indian citizens living in Israel and Palestine, as well as their whereabouts and readiness to leave those countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi “highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel” when he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the phone on Tuesday. Netanyahu promised complete cooperation and support, the PMO stated in a statement. This gave Delhi the green light to create backup plans for the potential evacuation of Indians there.
