India Launches 'Operation Ajay' to Bring Back Indian Nationals From Israel; First Special Flight Today

The Indian Government has launched 'Operation Ajay' in a bid to assist Indian Nationals in returning from Israel after the recent deadly attack by Palestinian terror group Hamas on the Jewish nation.

On Wednesday (11 October), Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, said that the “government was fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad” and said special charter flights and other arrangements were being put in place.

In a message on X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar said, "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".

The first lot of Indians who had registered to return has been notified and they will be put on the first special flight tomorrow to India, the country's embassy in Israel said in another post on Wednesday.

"The Embassy has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow. Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights," the post read.

This comes as Israel continues its air strikes against Hamas targets in Gaza after the Palestinian terror group rampaged through the south of Israel on Saturday morning, killing over 1,200 people, the vast majority of them civilians, and taking at least 100 captives to Gaza.