In a bid to ensure the safe return of Indian citizens amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict, the third batch of 197 Indian nationals took flight for home on a special mission this Saturday, marking a significant milestone in 'Operation Ajay.' Launched on October 12, this operation seeks to aid the return of Indian nationals who wish to return to India following the audacious attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas militants from Gaza on October 7.
" #OperationAjay moves forward. 197 more passengers are coming back to India," announced External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv disclosed the operation of two special flights departing from Ben Gurion airport on the same day. The first flight took off at around 5:40 pm local time, and the second flight, capable of accommodating 330 passengers, was scheduled for 11:00 pm local time.
The third batch of 197 Indian nationals embarked on their journey back to India at 5.40 pm local time (8.10 pm IST).
Ambassador Sanjeev Singla reassured the public about the relentless efforts of the Embassy, saying, "The Embassy has been working round the clock to facilitate all our citizens in Israel who wish to leave. We have reached out to students, caregivers, and business people. Some of them are actually working with us as volunteers. We urge everyone to remain calm."
The Indian Embassy in Israel also conveyed that they have emailed the next group of registered Indian citizens for the two special flights today, with further notifications to be sent for subsequent flights. Passengers are being chosen on a first-come, first-served basis, as per the registry created by the Indian embassy. Notably, the government is covering the expenses for their return.
The first charter flight from Israel, carrying 212 passengers, departed on Thursday, followed by the second batch of 235 Indian nationals on Friday. With this latest evacuation, a total of 644 Indian nationals have been successfully flown out of Israel.
It's important to note that there are approximately 18,000 Indian nationals residing and working in Israel, encompassing caregivers, students, IT professionals, and diamond traders. The voluntary departure of Indian nationals became a necessity after armed Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip launched an unprecedented attack on Israel through land, air, and sea on October 7.
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