What is Operation Ajay? How India Plans to Bring Back Its Citizens from War-hit Israel | Explained

The first charter flight from India under “Operation Ajay” will reach Israel on Thursday to bring back its citizens stuck in the war-hit region. The first batch, carrying around 230 people, is likely to reach India on Friday morning.

Nearly 3,800 people have been killed in the war since Saturday when hundreds of Hamas militants stormed across the border from Gaza and killed hundreds in Israel which waged a war in retaliation against the Palestine-based organization.

A 24-hour Control Room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs to monitor the situation and provide information and assistance.

EAM Jaishankar chaired a meeting today to review preparations for Operation Ajay.

What is “Operation Ajay”?

India has, on several occasions in the past, launched operations to rescue its citizens abroad in cases of conflict or war.

As several countries started evacuation missions after Hamas’ surprise attacks in Israel, the Government of India also decided to launch a special operation– “Operation Ajay” — to repatriate its citizens from the conflict-hit region.

Announcing the mission, Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said the Government of India is fully committed to the safety and well-being of Indian nationals abroad.

Under Operation Ajay, special charter flights will go from India to bring back Indians from Israel.

No Fare to be Charged from Indians

The operation was launched to facilitate the return of those who were unable to do so because Air India had immediately suspended its flight on the day fighting began on October 7, and its commercial operation remains suspended till now.

Those who are returning will not be paying any fare and the government is bearing the cost of their return, PTI reported.

How Many Indians Are in Israel?

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed that there are around 18,000 Indians in Israel. No casualty of any Indian national has been reported so far, he added.

The MEA asked Indians to follow advisories issued by the Indian Embassy in Israel.