Operation Ajay begins: First group of 230 Indians from Tel Aviv heads home

India sent its first charter flight to Tel Aviv on Thursday to evacuate its citizens stuck in Israel amid an escalating conflict between Israeli security forces and Hamas militants.

The first batch of around 230 Indians is expected to be brought back on Friday under ‘Operation Ajay’, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

An Air India B-787 plane departed from Delhi airport at 5 pm for the mission. The airline is scheduled to operate a total of seven flights till October 18 under ‘Operation Ajay’, sources told Business Standard. Air India did not immediately respond to Business Standard’s query on the matter.

Executives of other airlines said they had been asked to inform the government about how many planes they could deploy under ‘Operation Ajay’. “We are waiting for further specific directions from the government,” one of the executives said.

The MEA said more such “ferry flights” were expected to be finalised in the coming days, while possible assistance from the Indian Air Force (IAF) was not ruled out.

However, the MEA did not term the operation as an evacuation mission. Instead, it said the operation was an effort to assist those Indian nationals who wanted to come back. This makes ‘Operation Ajay’ different from ‘Operation Ganga’, the last such airlift of Indians, from Ukraine in March 2022. Back then, the government had directed Indian students in Ukraine to evacuate to specific cities from where they were bussed to neighbouring countries before being flown back on IAF aircraft as well as commercial flights of Air India, Indigo, and GoAir.

Indians in Israel will also have to pay for their seats, unlike those evacuated from Ukraine. “One advantage of this flight is that when all the other airlines are charging premium fees, we will have to pay only a minimal amount for this flight. The embassy has already shared an online form with those who are keen to return to India,” an Indian caregiver living in Tel Aviv told Business Standard.

The MEA data on overseas Indians shows there were 12,467 non-resident Indians in Israel as of February. However, the latest estimates indicate that at least 18,000 Indians are currently in Israel. According to Israel Malayali Federation officials, there are 6,000-6,500 people from Kerala in Israel, a majority of them are caregivers.

MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said there were 13 Indian nationals in the West Bank and four in the Gaza Strip, but India had not received any requests for assistance from them.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had taken a preparatory meeting on the issue on Thursday. He also spoke to his counterpart from the UAE and described the crisis in West Asia.

According to sources, some Indians who registered for ‘Operation Ajay’ include those who are living in Israel beyond their visa period. ‘Operation Ajay’ will continue until all Indians ready to move out of Israel are shifted out, the Indian authorities in Israel have said.

Infosys CEO says all employees in Israel safe IT services company Infosys on Thursday said all its employees in Israel are safe.

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, Infosys CEO and MD Salil Parekh said its employees in Israel are primarily locals but declined to comment on the exact staff strength there. 

The company further said it is "saddened" by the situation unfolding in the region.

Recent evacuation/repatriations by India

Name of operation: Ganga

When: February-March 2022

From where:Ukraine

Why: Ukraine-Russia war 

People involved: About 22,500 people, mainly students, evacuated on 90 flights of IAF as well as Indian private carriers

Name of operation: Vande Bharat Mission

When: April 2020-October 2021

From where: Starting from China, people repatriated from all around the world

Why: Covid-19 struck the world in early 2020

People involved: About 217,000 flights were conducted by private carriers. 18.3 million repatriated

Name of operation: Raahat

When: April 2015

From where: Yemen

Why: Saudi Arabia's air force attacked the Houthi rebels in Yemen

People involved: About 5,600 people -including 960 foreigners -evacuated by Indian Navy, IAF and Air India

Name of operation: Maitri

When: April 2015

From where: Nepal

Why: Earthquake 

People involved: About 6,000 including 785 foreigners evacuated by IAF

Name of operation: Safe Homecoming

When: February 2011

From where: Libya

Why: Civil War

People involved: About 15,000 Indians were evacuated by Indian Navy, Air India and IAF

Name of operation: Sukoon

When: July-August 2006

From where: Lebanon

Why: Israel-Hezbollah war

People involved: About 2,280 people including 200 foreigners were evacuated