Operation Ajay: First Flight With 212 Indians From Israel Lands In Delhi Amid Hamas War

Israel-Hamas War: The first flight of India's 'Operation Ajay' carrying 212 Indian nationals from Israel landed in Delhi early on Friday.

Israel-Hamas War: The first flight of India's 'Operation Ajay' carrying 212 Indian nationals from Israel landed in Delhi early on Friday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently launched 'Operation Ajay' to facilitate the return of stranded citizens from Israel. He said, "India launching Operation Ajay to facilitate return from Israel of Indians who wish to come back". Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed his gratitude to EAM Jaishankar and the entire team at the ministry for bringing Indian nationals back from Israel.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi took to X and shared a photograph of the returnees. In one of the pictures, Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar could be seen with the Indian nationals. The minister was also seen interacting with some of them.

"Welcome to the homeland! 1st #OperationAjay flight carrying 212 citizens touches down in New Delhi," Bagchi said in the post.

"...Our government will never leave any Indian behind. Our government, our Prime Minister is determined to protect them, bring them back home safely. We are grateful to EAM Dr S Jaishankar, the team at the External Affairs Ministry, the flight crew of this Air India flight for making this possible, for bringing our children back home safely and soundly and back home to their loved ones..." Chandrasekhar said.

Meanwhile, an Indian national who returned from Israel said, "This is the first time that we are facing this situation over there. We are very thankful to the Indian government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for bringing us back. We are hoping for peace as soon as possible so that we can go back to work as earliest as possible..."

"The situation was very bad over there... EAM Minister Dr S Jaishankar and his team, especially the Embassy in Tel Aviv did a tremendous job. And we're really very grateful to the Government in India," another said.

"On the first day, we were sleeping and at around 6.30 there was siren...so we ran towards the shelter and it was very hard but we managed. We are feeling relaxed and we thank the Government of India..." a woman said. 

Another returnee thanked the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv and said They supported Indians in Israel. "We registered on the portal and the process was very easy. The operation is excellent. We are very happy to come back to India..." he added.

Meanwhile, a flight carrying the first batch of Nepali students evacuated from Israel arrived in Nepal's capital Kathmandu. 254 Nepali students have been evacuated from Israel's Tel Aviv.

"Till now, a total of 557 Nepali citizens have registered themselves, out of which 503 wanted to return back to Nepal and a total of 254 students have been evacuated under the first phase of evacuation..." Nepal Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud said, as per ANI.