New Delhi, Oct 13 : In the early hours of Friday, the first contingent of approximately 200 Indians, including students, returned to India from Israel on a chartered flight, marking a significant development in Operation Ajay. This operation was initiated to facilitate the return of those who desired to come back home amid a series of audacious attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas militants, which had heightened tensions in the region.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar extended a warm welcome to the passengers as they disembarked from the aircraft and entered the lounge area at Delhi airport. He greeted them with folded hands and personally shook hands with many of the returnees, expressing, “Welcome home.”
Shashwat Singh, a post-doctoral researcher who had been residing in Israel since 2019, arrived in Delhi with his wife. Describing their experiences, he mentioned, “We woke up to the sound of air raid sirens. We live in central Israel. The unfolding conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain… I am pursuing postdoctoral research in agriculture there.” Singh expressed gratitude for the evacuation effort and stated, “We hope for the restoration of peace, and we eagerly await our return to work. The Indian government reached out to us via email. We are thankful to Prime Minister Modi and the Indian Embassy in Israel.”
MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi revealed that around 18,000 Indians currently reside in Israel, with a small number in the West Bank and Gaza.
The multi-pronged attacks by Hamas militants from Gaza against Israel since Saturday, followed by Israeli retaliation, have resulted in significant casualties, with around 2,600 people losing their lives. Israel initiated a massive counter-offensive in Gaza in response to the attacks by Hamas.
Suparno Ghosh, a first-year PhD student from West Bengal studying at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel, was among those returning on the special flight. He mentioned that they had sought refuge in shelters provided by the Israeli government during the attacks.
Deepak, a student, shared his experiences, saying, “We heard sirens on Saturday. As the attack happened, we could hear the sound. Israeli authorities were instructing us to take safety measures. It was a continuous attack. I am happy to return home but also saddened as our friends remain in Israel.” He praised the smoothness of the evacuation process.
Duti Banerjee, another West Bengal native in the returning group, described the situation in Israel as “pretty messy and unsettled,” with daily life disrupted, people living in fear, and a constant need to take shelter due to ongoing tensions.
