India launched Operation Ajay on October 14, 2023 for Indian citizens who wished to return from Israel
Nearly 1,200 people have been brought to India using five flights as part of Operation Ajay, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday (October 19, 2023). This number includes 18 Nepali nationals, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
 
"We are monitoring the situation and will plan additional flights depending on the requirement," he added while responding to questions at the weekly media briefing.
 
The first batch of 212 Indian citizens from Israel had arrived at New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on October 13, 2023 amidst escalating tensions in the region.
 
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 put in place for the operation.
 
There are about 18,000-odd Indian citizens in Israel and a small percentage of that are Indian students, the MEA Spokesperson had said last week. Additionally, there is information on 4 Indians in Gaza and 12-13 Indian nationals in the West Bank.
 
Palestine-based Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli locations on October 7, 2023, firing at least 2,500 rockets into the country.
 
Armed groups broke through the fencing around the Gaza Strip and attacked Israeli settlements, killing several hundred people including over 200 attending a music concert. The militants also took about 200 people, including women and children, hostage.
 
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. According to reports, over 4,000 people have been killed from both sides since October 7.
 
Tensions between the two sides reached a flash-point after an explosion at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza on October 17, 2023 killed several hundred people and both Israel and Hamas accused each other of carrying out an attack.
 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu squarely blamed Palestinian militants for the explosion. “The entire world should know: It was barbaric terrorists in Gaza that attacked the hospital in Gaza and not the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)," he said.
 
At the same time, Hamas accuses the Israeli forces of targeting the hospital and holds them responsible for the killing and injuring people at the hospital.
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed deep grief after the incident. In a post on social media platform X, he said, “Deeply shocked at the tragic loss of lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and prayers for speedy recovery of those injured. Civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are a matter of serious and continuing concern. Those involved should be held responsible.”
 
Responding to questions at Thursday’s media briefing, MEA Spokesperson Bagchi said India had already condemned the horrific terrorist attack on Israel. He stated India’s stand that the international community must stand together in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
 
Bagchi said India had also reiterated its position on Palestine, in favour of direct negotiations for establishing a two-state solution. “We have also expressed our concern at the civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation,” he added.