1st 'Ajay' Operation Flight Lands in Delhi

Carrying 212 Stranded Indians from Israel

The inaugural charter flight for the evacuation of Indian citizens stranded in Israel due to the ongoing conflict has safely landed in New Delhi on a Friday morning.

On Friday morning, the initial charter flight to bring back Indian citizens stuck in Israel during the ongoing war safely arrived in New Delhi. This flight, part of 'Operation Ajay,' departed from Israel's Ben Gurion airport on Thursday night, carrying 212 Indian passengers, including an infant. Notably, passengers were selected on a 'first come, first served' basis.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar posted pictures of the initial citizen repatriation on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday night, announcing, "Operation Ajay is in motion. 212 citizens are on their way to New Delhi."

'Operation Ajay' was initiated by the government on Wednesday to evacuate stranded citizens from Israel, where intense fighting with the terrorist group Hamas is ongoing. This decision was made after Air India and other airlines suspended their regular commercial flights to and from Israel following the start of the war on October 7.

On X, S. Jaishankar announced the initiation of #OperationAjay to facilitate the return of Indian citizens from Israel who wish to come back. The government is fully dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad, making special charter flights and other arrangements for their repatriation.