National Desk, 12th October: As the Israel-Gaza conflict escalates, India has launched Operation Ajay to ensure the safe return of its citizens from Israel. Approximately 18,000 Indian nationals currently reside in Israel, and the Indian government is taking swift action to protect its citizens abroad.
The announcement came from India’s Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar, who revealed that special charter flights and other arrangements are being put in place to facilitate the repatriation process.
The Indian embassy in Israel has already taken action, notifying the first group of registered Indian citizens who will be boarding the initial special flight back to India today. Given the ongoing conflict in the region, Israel has established an emergency government to manage its response to the situation.
In recent days, Israel’s retaliatory shelling in the Gaza Strip has resulted in civilian casualties, escalating the humanitarian crisis. Israel’s military presence around the Gaza Strip suggests the possibility of an impending invasion.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant organization, is reported to have taken around 150 people hostage, including citizens from various countries, such as Thailand, Mexico, the United States, and Germany.
Furthermore, Israel faces a potential conflict on its northern border with Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Shiite militant organization, Hezbollah, is based. Hezbollah recently claimed responsibility for missiles fired at Israel, prompting Israeli forces to retaliate by targeting a Hezbollah military observation post in southern Lebanon.
The situation remains highly fluid, with additional tensions in the region, as Israel reported an exchange of fire with militants in Syria on Tuesday, following allegations of munitions fire toward the Golan Heights.
Operation Ajay is an essential effort by the Indian government to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens during this tumultuous period of conflict in the Middle East.