Operation Ajay: First flight under carrying 212 Indians lands at Delhi airport

Around 212 Indian nationals were flown into India by a special flight from Tel Aviv early on Friday morning. The Indian government's maiden charter flight operation from Israel is aimed at assisting Indian citizens caught in the ongoing conflict in the region. The flight, which departed in the evening, carried 211 adults and one infant, all of whom were residents in the conflict-ridden area.

The selection of passengers for this special flight was based on a "first come, first serve" criterion, following an appeal by the Indian embassy for all Indian nationals to register in the mission's database. Notably, the Indian government has undertaken the financial responsibility for their repatriation.



This initiative became imperative as Air India suspended its services on the very day the conflict erupted, on October 7, leaving numerous Indian citizens stranded without means of return.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed, "Operation Ajay gets underway. 212 citizens onboard the flight are en route to New Delhi," in a post on X. The Indian embassy in Israel also extended their best wishes to the passengers, stating, "The first flight of Operation Ajay carrying 212 Indian nationals has departed from Tel Aviv to Delhi."

At the departure point, a substantial number of Indian citizens, including students, assembled to board this specially arranged flight under the 'Operation Ajay' banner, originating from Tel Aviv.

The backdrop to this repatriation mission is the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Islamic militant group, Hamas. The situation escalated on October 7 when Hamas fighters breached the border and infiltrated Israel through various means. Tragically, the conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, with more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, losing their lives in Israel, marking the highest death toll since the 1973 war with Egypt and Syria. In the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, at least 1,417 people, including women and children, have reportedly lost their lives.

Despite the somber circumstances, there was a discernible sense of relief and unity among the returning Indian citizens, who chanted patriotic slogans during the flight. Shubham Kumar, a student on the flight, expressed gratitude, stating, "We are thankful to India. Most of the students were somewhat panicked. Suddenly, we received a notification with links for every Indian citizen from the embassy of India, which significantly boosted our morale."

Another student revealed that he had been leading a normal life in northern Israel but decided to return home after receiving an email from the Indian embassy. "I am happy to go home but saddened by the challenges here," he said.

The Indian embassy had sent emails to the first group of registered Indian citizens for this special flight, with plans for subsequent flights to accommodate others who had registered.

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar officially announced the launch of 'Operation Ajay' on Wednesday, emphasizing the government's unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of its nationals abroad. The second flight is scheduled for the following day, with registrations available on a "first come, first serve" basis.

Ben Gurion International Airport, situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Lod, served as the departure point for this vital operation.

While Israel's retaliatory actions in Gaza continued, there was a noticeable reduction in rocket attacks from Gaza. Notably, no rockets were fired on Israel between 10 PM on Wednesday and 9 AM on Thursday, leading analysts to speculate that Hamas may be reserving its stockpile for a potential ground incursion.

(With inputs from PTI)