India launched Operation Ajay on October 14, 2023 for Indian nationals who wished to return from Israel
The second batch of 235 Indians from Israel arrived in New Delhi on Saturday (October 14, 2023) under Operation Ajay. With this, over 400 Indian nationals have been flown out of the war-torn region.
 
"Received the second batch of Indians from Israel. Heartening to note that they are very appreciative of GoI’s swift response #OperationAjay and @MEAIndia for smooth coordination," Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh wrote on social media platform X as he shared photographs from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
 
"#OperationAjay continues to bring citizens home. 2nd flight carrying 235 citizens arrives in New Delhi. MoS @RanjanRajkuma11 received the citizens at the airport," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi posted on X. 
 
The first batch of 212 Indian citizens from Israel had arrived at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on Friday morning amidst escalating tensions in the region.
 
"Welcome to the homeland! 1st #OperationAjay flight carrying 212 citizens touches down in New Delhi," MEA Official Arindam Bagchi wrote on social media platform X as he shared photographs of Indian nationals after their arrival.
 
India launched Operation Ajay on Wednesday (October 14, 2023), with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announcing that it was meant to facilitate the return from Israel of Indian citizens who wished to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements were being put in place, he said, sharing the information on social media platform X.
 
There are about 18,000-odd Indian citizens in Israel and a small percentage of that are Indian students, according to the MEA.
 
Over 3,000 people from both sides have been killed in the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine-based Hamas militants. The militants had launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli locations early on October 7, 2023, using hundreds of rockets and sending in armed groups through the fencing around the Gaza strip. The Israeli Defence Forces have responded with their full might using air power to target what they say are locations of the Hamas leadership in the Gaza area.
 
On Wednesday, the MEA had released contact details for Indian nationals in Israel.
A 24-hour Control Room has been set up in the MEA to monitor the situation and provide information and assistance:
1800118797 (Toll free)
+91-11 23012113
+91-11-23014104
+91-11-23017905
+919968291988
situationroom@mea.gov.in
 
In addition, Embassy of India in Tel Aviv has set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed as per these contact details:
+972-35226748
+972-543278392
cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
 
The Representative Office of India in Ramallah has also set up a 24-hour emergency helpline, which can be accessed as per contact details given below:

+970-592916418 (also WhatsApp)
rep.ramallah@mea.gov.in