Operation Ajay: First flight carrying 212 Indian nationals returns to homeland from strife-torn Israel
Operation Ajay: Amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, the first flight carrying 212 Indian nationals returns back to homeland on Friday morning.
As many as 212 Indian nationals from Israel have arrived at the Delhi airport. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar was present at the airport to welcome them.
#WATCH | First flight carrying 212 Indian nationals from Israel, lands at Delhi airport; received by Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar pic.twitter.com/uB71qIBmJy — ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2023
This evacuation effort, known as Operation Ajay, is majorly focused on Indian students studying in Israeli institutions.
After the arrival of first flight from Israel, Chandrasekhar welcomed Indian students with folded hands and interacted with them
#WATCH | Delhi: Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar interacts with the Indian nationals evacuated from Israel pic.twitter.com/itSzrwY4OD — ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2023
The union minister reassured the passengers, saying India's commitment to the safety of every Indian is unwavering. Prime Minister Modi is determined to protect them, he added.
"Our government will never leave any Indian behind. Our government, our Prime Minister is determined to protect them and bring them back home safely. We are grateful to EAM Dr S Jaishankar, the team at the External Affairs Ministry, the flight crew of this Air India flight for making this possible, for bringing our children back home safely and soundly and back home to their loved ones," Chandrasekhar said.
The first batch of Indian passengers boarded the flight from Tel Aviv to India under Operation Ajay on Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "As announced by EAM yesterday, Operation Ajay has been launched to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to come back. The first chartered flight will be reaching Tel Aviv later tonight to pick up the Indian citizens and is likely to return to India tomorrow morning," the external affairs ministry spokesperson said while addressing a media briefing here today."We are keeping a close watch on the situation in Israel."
Notably, Operation Ajay is primarily focused on repatriating Indian citizens from Israel, where they have been affected by the conflict. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring back around 18,000 Indians in Israel.
Welcome to the homeland!
1st #OperationAjay flight carrying 212 citizens touches down in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/FOQK2tvPrR — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 13, 2023
A 24-hour control room in New Delhi is closely monitoring the situation in Israel and Palestine. Contact information for the control room and the Indian embassy's emergency helpline in Tel Aviv has been provided for those seeking assistance.
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This operation exemplifies India's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad during challenging circumstances.
- With inputs from agencies
