New Delhi: On Friday, October 13, 2023, the first charter flight to repatriate Indian citizens stranded in Israel amid the ongoing conflict arrived in New Delhi. The flight, carrying 212 passengers including an infant, took off on Thursday night from the Ben Gurion airport in Israel under “Operation Ajay”.
The operation was launched by the Indian government to evacuate its citizens from Israel following the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The conflict, which began on May 10, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 200 people, including at least 60 children.
The Indian government has estimated that there are around 1,500 Indian citizens living in Israel. Many of these citizens are students, workers, and business people. Following the outbreak of conflict, the Indian embassy in Israel advised its citizens to remain indoors and to avoid areas of unrest.
However, as the conflict escalated, many Indian citizens found themselves stranded in Israel. Some were unable to leave the country due to the closure of airports and border crossings. Others were unable to afford the high cost of commercial flights.
The Indian government launched “Operation Ajay” to evacuate its stranded citizens from Israel. The operation was named after Ajaypal Singh Banga, an Indian Air Force pilot who was killed in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.
The first charter flight under “Operation Ajay” took off from Ben Gurion airport on Thursday night. The flight was carrying 212 Indian passengers, including an infant. The passengers were mostly students and workers.
The flight arrived in New Delhi on Friday morning. The passengers were welcomed by officials from the Indian government and by their families and friends.
The Indian government has said that it will continue to evacuate its stranded citizens from Israel. The government has also said that it is providing assistance to Indian citizens who have been affected by the conflict.
The evacuation of Indian citizens from Israel is a positive development. It shows that the Indian government is committed to the safety of its citizens abroad. The operation is also a testament to the strong ties between India and Israel.