India initiated Operation Ajay in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas. The conflict began when Israel retaliated against Hamas’s attack, which commenced on Saturday. In response, Israel declared a state of war against Hamas, establishing a war cabinet, while Hamas expressed its readiness for a prolonged conflict. As a strategic partner of Israel, India strongly condemned the Hamas attack, and Prime Minister Modi expressed solidarity with Israel.
Operation Ajay
On the fifth day of the conflict, Operation Ajay was officially launched by India to bring back its citizens from Israel. To ensure the safety of its citizens in Israel, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs promptly issued warnings and provided a helpline number. A 24-hour control room in New Delhi is monitoring the situation in Israel and Palestine.
Control room Numbers
The phone numbers for the control room are 1800118797 (toll free), +91-11 23012113, +91-11-23014104, +91-11-23017905 and +919968291988, and the email ID is situationroom@mea.gov.in.
The Indian embassy’s 24-hour emergency helpline can be accessed on the numbers +972-35226748 and +972-543278392, and the email ID cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in
Approximately 27 individuals from Meghalaya, among them Rajya Sabha member Wanweiroy Kharlukhi, found themselves stranded in Bethlehem when the conflict began.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) coordinated their secure transit to Egypt.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar tweeted on Wednesday “Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return. Special charter flights and other arrangements (are) being put in place. Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.”
Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return from Israel of our citizens who wish to return.
Special charter flights and other arrangements being put in place.
Fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 11, 2023
