India has launched 'Operation Ajay' to evacuate Indians stranded in Israel as the war escalates. There are over 18,000 Indians in Israel, including students, caregivers, diamond traders and IT professionals.
The Embassy of India in Israel informed that it emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight on Thursday. "The Embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights," the Embassy wrote on Twitter.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced the mission on Wednesday night. "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," tweeted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it has set up a round-the-clock control room in Delhi and separate emergency helplines in Tel Aviv and Ramallah to monitor the situation in Israel and Palestine and provide information and assistance to the Indian citizens.
The phone numbers of the control room in Delhi are 1800118797 (toll-free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905 and +919968291988, and the e-mail ID is situationroom@mea.gov.in.
"In view of the ongoing developments in Israel and Palestine, a 24-hour control room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs to monitor the situation and provide information and assistance," the MEA said.
Just after the war broke out, the Indian Embassy issued an advisory urging Indian citizens to exercise caution, avoid movement and stay close to safety shelters. India had also cancelled all flights to and fro from Israel.
Indian had conducted multiple evacuation operations before too, including Operation Ganga to to assist Indian evacuation from Ukraine where around 20,000 Indians including students were stuck in Ukraine. The Ministry of External Affairs had also evacuated over 534 Indian nationals from Sudan following the civil war, through Operation Kaveri in April.