As the violence between Hamas and Israeli forces continues, the Indian government has launched Operation Ajay, to bring back the 18,000 Indians who are currently in Israel. Earlier, the Indian Embassy helped Indian actor Nushrratt Bharuccha return to Mumbai from the Israeli city of Haifa. She was visiting the country to attend the Haifa International Film Festival when conflict broke out.
Kobbi Shoshani, the Consul General of Israel in Mumbai lauded the government’s efforts and recognized the contributions of Indians in Israel, many of whom are business-owners, and nursing and caregiving professionals. Israel is also home to around 1,000 Indian students.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on social media that under Operation Ajay, special charter flights will ferry Indian citizens back home from Israel. The first flight, carrying around 230 individuals, has already taken off from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport.