How Sanjeev Singla, India’s envoy in Tel Aviv, is assuring the safety of nationals in Israel

Israel and Hamas are fighting an intense war. It has global repercussions and India has a lot to worry about. New Delhi is walking a diplomatic tightrope as it has a traditional relationship with Palestine and a growing friendship with Israel. That’s not all. Among its first concerns are Indians stranded in Israel – there are 18,000 – and their safety matters. At the centre of this volatile situation is India’s ambassador to Israel, Sanjeev Kumar Singla.

In times of conflict in a foreign land, every nation’s big priority is securing the safety of its people. Embassies have a big role to play and they are led by the ambassador, who is their country’s official representative in the host nation.

Don’t miss: Our special coverage from Tel Aviv on the Israel-Hamas war

In Tel Aviv, Singla has a task at hand. He has to manage 18,000 Indians and 85,000 Jews of Indian origin as the conflict with Hamas intensifies.

We take a look at how Singla is standing in for New Delhi in this testing time.

Rescuing Indians in Israel

India on Friday announced the launch of Operation Ajay to rescue its nationals stranded in Israel, as rocket attacks from Gaza continue to hit its cities days after Hamas’ unprecedented assault. The Indian government is paying (and praying) for the return of its citizens.

The rescue operation is massive, keeping in mind the sheer number of Indians caught in the middle of the conflict. They include students, IT professionals and caregivers. But how does India decide who will be ferried first?

The passengers are picked on a “first come first serve” basis. A drive was launched at the Indian embassy in Tel Aviv to register at the mission’s database, according to a report in NDTV.

The first flight to Israel under Operation Ajay landed in New Delhi on Friday morning. It was carrying 212 Indians, who were relieved to be back home. More such flights will follow in days to come.

The Indian embassy under the guidance of Singla has been working round the clock, keeping in touch with those stuck in Israel.

The Embassy has been working constantly to help our fellow citizens in Israel through a 24-hour helpline. Please remain calm & vigilant & follow the security advisories.

24*7 Emergency Helpline/Contact:
Tel +972-35226748
Tel +972-543278392
Email: [email protected] pic.twitter.com/Y7HehsaJOf

— India in Israel (@indemtel) October 11, 2023

“We are thankful to India... Most of the students were a little bit panicked. Suddenly we saw some notification and links for every Indian citizen through the embassy of India which boosted our morale,” Shubham Kumar, a student in Israel, told news agency PTI.

“We felt like the embassy of India is connected with us, which was a kind of relief to us. And then we got all the arrangements,” he added.

Since the conflict broke out, Singla has been monitoring the situation closely and regularly keeping in touch with the Indian diaspora in Israel. The Indian embassy was quick to activate 24/7 helpline numbers (+972-35226748 and +972-543278392) to keep all communication channels with its nationals open. Indian citizens in Israel who need assistance or wish to register with the embassy can also reach out to officials via email ([email protected]).

In a video message posted on X, Singla said, “To our fellow Indian citizens in Israel. This is to assure you that the embassy is working constantly for your safety and welfare. All of us are going through very difficult times, but please do remain calm and vigilant and follow the local security guidelines,” he added.

“We are here to help you, and we thank many of you who have sent so many messages of appreciation to us. We are monitoring the situation closely, and please stay tuned for any updates…Jai Hind,” the envoy said further in his video message.

Message from Ambassador Sanjeev Singla to the members of Indian community in Israel