National Desk, 13th October: The first charter flight of ‘Operation Ajay’ successfully repatriates 212 Indian nationals from conflict-stricken Israel, landing at Delhi airport. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekar warmly welcomed these returning citizens who have faced the turmoil caused by Hamas attacks in Israel.
This operation was launched in response to the ongoing hostilities in Israel, where a series of attacks by Hamas from Gaza and Israeli counter-offensives have tragically claimed over 2,500 lives. Israel’s significant counter-offensive continues.
The relieved Indian passengers expressed their gratitude for the government’s efforts. One of them stated, “We’ve never experienced such a situation before. We’re thankful to the Indian government, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for bringing us back. We hope for peace soon to resume our work.”
Another passenger shared the difficulties they faced in Israel, saying, “On the first day, there was a siren at around 6:30 AM. We ran to the shelter, which was very challenging, but we managed. We’re now feeling relaxed and thankful to the Government of India.”
Passengers were selected based on a “first come first serve” basis after an Indian embassy registration drive. The government is covering their return expenses.
The flight, which took off at 10:14 PM (local time), was organized to assist those unable to return due to Air India suspending flights when the conflict began on October 7. The airline’s commercial operations remain halted.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced the launch of ‘Operation Ajay’ earlier this week, emphasizing the government’s commitment to the safety of its nationals abroad. The Indian embassy has already scheduled a second flight for Friday, with registrations being processed on the same basis.