Amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Indian government has initiated measures to evacuate its citizens stranded in Israel, following a similar operation to bring back nationals from Iran. This decision comes as hostilities between Israel and Iran have intensified, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of Indian citizens residing in the region.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has announced that it will facilitate the travel of Indian nationals wishing to leave Israel, utilizing land borders and subsequent air travel to India. The Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv is coordinating the evacuation efforts and has requested all Indian nationals to register with the embassy if they have not already done so. This registration will help the embassy in making necessary arrangements and providing assistance to those who wish to return home. Contact numbers +972 54-7520711 and +972 54-3278392, and email cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in have been provided for any queries.
The embassy has also reiterated its earlier advisories, urging all Indian citizens in Israel to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to the safety guidelines issued by Israeli authorities and the Home Front Command. The government has assured that it accords the highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Prior to this, India had launched "Operation Sindhu" to evacuate Indian citizens from Iran. As part of this operation, 110 Indian students were successfully evacuated from northern Iran and brought back to New Delhi via Yerevan, Armenia. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received the students at the airport. The MEA has confirmed that efforts are ongoing to bring back more Indians stranded in different parts of Iran.
The evacuation from Iran involved moving students from northern Iran to Armenia, from where they were flown to Delhi. Many of these students were from Jammu and Kashmir and were enrolled in medical and other professional courses. The students expressed relief and gratitude to the Indian government for their timely assistance, while also appealing for the evacuation of other students still stranded in Isfahan and Tehran. Some students also requested assistance with transportation to their homes after reaching Delhi.
Reuven Azar, Israel's envoy to India, stated that Israel is facilitating the evacuation of diplomats and foreign nationals who wish to leave the country. He mentioned that Israel's transport ministry is organizing "evacuation commutes" and is discussing options, including terrestrial and maritime routes, with Indian authorities. The Allenby border crossing between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, as well as the Eilat-Taba border crossing with Egypt, are operational. Cruise ships from Israeli ports to Cyprus are also being considered as a possible option.
This is not the first time India has undertaken such evacuation operations. In 2023, "Operation Ajay" was launched to bring back Indians stranded in Israel during the conflict with Hamas. Similarly, "Operation Ganga" was initiated in 2022 to evacuate Indian students from Ukraine following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war.
These evacuation efforts highlight India's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens in conflict zones. The government is closely monitoring the situation in both Israel and Iran and is taking all necessary measures to provide assistance and facilitate the safe return of Indian nationals who wish to leave.
