Amid the escalating Hamas-Israel conflict, the Government of India has launched 'Operation Ajay' (invincible) to evacuate Indian citizens in Israel and Palestine who wish to return home.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar revealed: "Special charter flights and other arrangements are being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad."
Jaishankar also chaired a meeting of Indian officials in New Delhi on Thursday to work out the logistics of Operation Ajay, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
First Flight of Evacuated Indians to Reach India on Friday
Addressing the regular press briefing on Thursday, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the first charter flight of evacuated Indian citizens would reach Tel Aviv late on Thursday evening and return to India on Friday morning.
"There are about 18,000 Indian nationals in Israel. A small percetanage of them are Indian students," Bagchi stated.
He added that there were just a dozen-odd Indian citizens in Palestinian territories of West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.
The MEA spokesperson appealed to the Indian citizens in Israel and Palestine to register with the Indian missions in Tel Aviv and Ramallah respectively.
Bagchi said that there would be more charter flights for Indian citizens in coming days, which would be based on demand.
He said that the MEA was in touch with Indian missions in Tel Aviv, Ramallah (West Bank), Jordan, Egypt and Syria to facilitate the rescue operations.
Around 8,000 Indians in Israel Have Registered With Embassy: Sources
Separately, Indian government sources have said that around 8,000 Indian citizens in Israel have registered with the embassy in Tel Aviv, although all of them weren't expected to board the flight back home.
"Most of Indian students not expected to fly back," sourced said.
They said that the "priority" for Indian authorities was to evacuate Indians around the Gaza Strip and other conflict-affected areas in southern Israel.
"The exact criteria on who should return first is being set by the Embassy in Tel Aviv," they added.
Further, it is learnt that around 200 Indians will be returning on every flight from Israel to India.