India has launched Operation Ajay to facilitate the safe return of Indians who wish to come back from Israel, Ministry of External Affairs announced on Wednesday, amid a raging war that has killed over 2,000 people on both sides -- Israel and Palestine. The first flight with Indian citizens will leave Israel tomorrow.
Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place under Operation Ajay, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said. "Launching Operation Ajay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad," he said in a post on 'X'.
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India has also set up a 24-hour helpline number for its citizens in Palestine as Israel intensifies its offensive in retaliation to an attack by Hamas group in Gaza on Saturday. The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv too has set up an emergency helpline for its citizens. "In light of the prevailing security situation, Indian nationals in Palestine can directly contact the Representative Office of India to address any case of emergency or needed assistance on the 24-hour emergency helpline," the Indian embassy in Palestine posted on X.
The Representative Office of India in Ramallah said that while they are in touch and are trying to help all Indians, the situation on the ground constrains their options. Internet connection in Gaza is poor and only those with their limited net packs are able to establish contact with people outside.
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Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered a “complete siege” of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. “I have given an order - Gaza will be under complete siege. There will be no electricity, food or fuel [delivered to Gaza]. We are fighting barbaric [terrorists] and will respond accordingly,” Gallant said.
Many feared Indians living in Gaza have sought their urgent evacuation amid continuous bombardments by Israel. “We are facing a brutal war here and everything is being destroyed in bombarded in a matter of seconds. We are paying the price of this conflict as civilians are being targeted,” Lubna Nazir Shaboo, an Indian from Jammu & Kashmir living in Gaza, told PTI over the phone.
Shaboo, who is living with her husband, Nedal Toman, and youngest daughter, Karima, in Gaza, said the “water supply was officially cut off” in addition to electricity.
India’s representative office in Ramallah has set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed at the phone number +970-592916418 (also WhatsApp) and the email ID rep.ramallah@mea.gov.in. The Indian embassy in Tel Aviv has also set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed on the numbers +972-35226748 and +972-543278392, and the email ID cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
Regarding the safety of Indian citizens in Israel, Consul General of Israel to South India Tammy Ben-Haim said an Indian woman who was injured is stable and has been moved from the South to a hospital in the centre of Israel.
