India on Wednesday launched Operation Ajay to bring back Indians from Israel as the conflict escalated with Israel revenging against Hamas’s attack that started on Saturday. Israel has declared war against Hamas and set up a war cabinet while Hamas said it’s ready for a long – drawn conflict. India being a strategic partner of Israel condemned the Hamas attack and PM Modi expressed solidarity with Israel. As soon as the conflict broke out, the external affairs minister advised Indians in Israel to exercise caution.
India’s Emergency Evacuation Mission
image source – hindustan times
“Launching #OperationAjay to accelerate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements are being put in place for the evacuation mission. Completely committed to the safety and well- being of our citizens abroad”, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar posted on social media platform X.
Caution Advised – Indian Citizens in Israel
The Indian embassy in Tel Aviv informed on X that it has informed the first lot of listed Indian citizens for the special flight hereafter. “Messages to more Indians will follow for posterior flights”, the embassy added. Earlier in the day, the ministry of external affairs said it had set up a 24- hour control room to cover the situation in Israel and give information and backing.
The Indian embassy has also issued helpline numbers for the Indian citizens. At least 2,200 people have been killed in the Israel- Hamas war which entered the fifth day.
Humanitarian Crisis – Rising Casualties in the Conflict
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu along with a leading opposition leader formed an emergency war – time cabinet to oversee the fight against Hamas. Israel has unleashed a decreasingly destructive hail in Gaza that has flattened entire megacity blocks and left unknown figures of bodies beneath mounds of debris.
Radicals in Gaza continued to fire rockets at Israel on Wednesday, including a heavy shower at the southern city of Ashkelon. India has formerly extended its support to Israel in its fight against Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
Leaders in Dialogue
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday had spoken to his Israeli counterpart Netanyahu over phone about the present situation in the Jewish country. “ I thank Prime Minister @netanyahu for his call and furnishing an update on the ongoing situation. People of India stand powerfully with Israel in this delicate hour. India firmly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations ”, Modi had posted on social media platform X.
