India on Wednesday announced the launch of “Operation Ajay” to help Indians stuck in Israel return home, as fresh tensions rose in the region as Hamas militants carried out a series of brazen attacks on Israeli cities over the weekend. According to the Foreign Ministry, around 18,000 Indians currently live in Israel.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced on X on Wednesday: “Launching #OperationAjay to facilitate the return of our citizens of Israel who wish to return.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Operation Ajay:

• Special charter flights and other arrangements are being made to enable Indians to return safely to the country. Pointing this out, the minister said: “We are fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad.”

• The first group of Indians is expected to be brought back from Israel on a special flight on Thursday.
• It is noteworthy that the Indian Embassy in Israel already emailed the first registered Indian citizens for the special flight on Thursday.
• “For subsequent flights, messages will be sent to other registered people,” it said on X.
• Meanwhile, a 24-hour control room has been set up in Delhi and separate emergency numbers in Tel Aviv and Ramallah to monitor the situation in the war-torn regions and provide information and assistance to Indian citizens
• The control room phone numbers in Delhi are 1800118797 (toll free), 91-11 23012113, 91-11-23014104, 91-11-23017905 and 919968291988 and the email ID is [email protected] .

Meanwhile, Kobbi Shoshani, Consul General of Israel in Mumbai, assured that the Israeli government is doing its utmost to support the Indian Embassy in Operation Ajay: “There are around 18,000 Indian citizens living in Israel, including 1,000 students whom we love very much.” The Indian Business community, which we love and respect deeply, contributes greatly to our economy.”

EAM Jaishankar mentioned that he was in touch with his UAE counterpart and discussed the issue in detail.

“I spoke to UAE Foreign Minister @ABZayed this evening. I discussed the ongoing crisis in West Asia. We have agreed to stay in touch,” the Foreign Minister wrote on X.

Around 2,150 people have died in the multifaceted attacks by Hamas militants from Gaza on Israel since Saturday and the subsequent Israeli retaliation.

According to Israeli authorities, more than 1,200 people, including 155 soldiers, were killed in Israel, while the Palestinian side put the death toll in Gaza at 950.