'Thankful to Indian govt, PM Modi for bringing us back,' say 212 Indians evacuated from Israel under 'Operation Ajay'

After arriving in New Delhi in the special chartered flight that carried 212 Indians from the war-struck country of Israel under ‘Operation Ajay’, the repatriated Indian nationals thanked the Indian government for bringing them back safely.

The chartered flight repatriated 212 Indians from Israel and landed in the national capital on Friday morning.

“This is the first time that we are facing this situation over there. We are very thankful to the Indian government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing us back. We are hoping for peace as soon as possible so that we can go back to work as earliest as possible…” an Indian national told ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi: An Indian national who returned from Israel says, “This is the first time that we are facing this situation over there. We are very thankful to the Indian government, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing us back. We are hoping for peace as soon as… https://t.co/XPUDlnv3Lf pic.twitter.com/Fu10lZ7DHc

— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2023

Another Indian woman, an agricultural researcher who along with her husband was doing her postdoctorate studies in Israel was on the flight which took off from Ben Gurion airport in Israel on October 12.

The woman was carrying in her arms her 5-month-old son, who was born in Israel when she landed in the national capital and there was visible relief on her face.

She said, “On the first day, we were sleeping and around 6.30 there was siren…so we ran towards the shelter and it was very hard but we managed. We are feeling relaxed and we thank the Government of India…”

#WATCH | Delhi: An Indian national who returned from Israel says, “On the first day, we were sleeping and at around 6.30 there was siren…so we ran towards the shelter and it was very hard but we managed. We are feeling relaxed and we thank the Government of India…” pic.twitter.com/2OeDvLwJQ5

— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2023

Another man said, “I thank the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv. They supported us. We registered on the portal and the process was very easy. The operation is excellent. We are very happy to come back to India…”

#WATCH | Delhi: An Indian national who returned from Israel says, “I thank the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv. They supported us. We registered on the portal and the process was very easy. The operation is excellent. We are very happy to come back to India…” pic.twitter.com/NtRkquOzmH

— ANI (@ANI) October 13, 2023

There was a long queue of Indians, including students, at the airport to board the special flight being operated under ‘Operation Ajay’ from Tel Aviv.

Israel has vowed an unprecedented offensive against the Islamic militant group Hamas ruling Gaza after its fighters broke through the border fence and stormed into the country’s south through air, land and sea on 7 October.

With inputs from agencies