The Indian government would make special chartered flights available to help Indian citizens return home...
Digital Desk: India announced on Wednesday that it was launching Operation Ajay to begin the transfer of its residents from Israel and Palestine on Thursday as the Israel-Hamas conflict heated up as nations raced to return 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.
S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, stated on X, "Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate our citizens' return from Israel."
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.
As a first move, the Ministry of External Affairs established a 24-hour control room on Wednesday, as Israel continued to launch air strikes on Hamas-ruled Gaza.
The control room declared mission to assist and monitor the situation and provide information and aid. According to a statement issued by the MEA, the control room in New Delhi can be reached at the following numbers: 1800118797 (toll-free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11 23014104, +91-11 23017905, +919968291988, situationroom@mea.gov.in.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv established a 24-hour emergency helpline, which may be reached at +972-35226748, +972-543278392, or cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in.
The Indian Embassy in Ramallah has also established a 24-hour emergency helpline: +970-592916418 (also WhatsApp), rep.ramallah@mea.gov.in.
The embassy also reminded Indian nationals in Israel to register at https://indembassyisrael.gov.in/whats?id=dwjwb.
Approximately 18,000 Indian people are living, working, or studying in Israel. A large number of them work as caretakers, but there are also roughly 1,000 students, IT experts, and diamond traders among them.
The control rooms will examine the number of Indian nationals in Israel and Palestine, as well as their current location and inclination to leave.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi "highlighted the issue of safety and security of Indian citizens in Israel" when he received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. According to the PMO, Netanyahu has promised complete cooperation and support.
This step prompted Delhi to prepare contingency measures for the possible evacuation of Indians from the country.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv has reached out to a Kerala carer who was hurt in the missile bombardment of Ashdod on the day of the Hamas attack last Saturday. The embassy has maintained contact with her and her family in India. Members of the Indian community in the area have also paid her visits to the hospital. Her health is considered to be stable now.
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