New Delhi: The first batch of Indian nationals — most of whom are students — will be evacuated from Israel Thursday under ‘Operation Ajay’ via a chartered flight that will depart from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv at around 9pm Israel time (11.30 pm IST).
India Wednesday announced the launch of Operation Ajay to help evacuate Indians stuck in Israel amid heavy fighting between Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel Defence Forces.
An email sent by the Indian mission in Israel to students — seen by ThePrint — instructs those registered for the first batch of evacuation to reach the airport in Tel Aviv five hours prior to the departure time. Students told ThePrint that they will likely have to arrange their own transport to the airport.
Tel Aviv-based Indian nationals confirmed that public transport is still functioning in the city, including buses and trains.
Sony Sharma, 26-year-old PhD student at Weizmann Institute of Science, from Rajasthan will be part of the first batch of Indians flying back home tonight.
“Since Saturday, we have been hearing so many sirens a day with just 90 seconds to run to a shelter. It has been scary and exhausting. We have been told to reach Ben Gurion Airport five hours before the flight as it is likely to be chaotic there,” Sharma, currently in Tel Aviv, told ThePrint. “My parents are in Rajasthan. They have been calling me regularly as they keep seeing distressing visuals of the conflict on TV.”
Umesh KP, a 25-year-old PhD student at Hebrew University of Jerusalem who hails from Kerala, is yet to receive confirmation as to whether he is part of the first batch of evacuees.
“I am eagerly waiting for my confirmation to be part of the first batch. I have been studying here for more than two years and have never witnessed such a conflict,” he told ThePrint.
Around 18,000 Indians are currently residing in Israel, most of whom are students, caregivers, diamond traders and IT professionals, as per data from the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, some Indians explained that not all are opting for evacuation, specifically caregivers who are working in Israel on a single-entry visa.
“Caregivers are worried that if they are evacuated, they will face difficulty in trying to re-enter Israel after the conflict. Unlike students who have multiple-entry visas, they have single-entry,” an Indian national, who wished to not be named, told ThePrint over phone.
ThePrint reached the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson via call for confirmation on how many Indians are part of the first batch of evacuees. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar Wednesday announced the launch of the evacuation operation. “Special charter flights and other arrangements are being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad,” he said in a statement on X.
Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return.
Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place.
Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 11, 2023
A 24-hour control room has been set up by the ministry to monitor the situation and provide information and assistance. In addition, a 24-hour emergency helpline has been set up at Indian missions in Israel and Ramallah.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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