The first batch of Indians from Israel landed in Delhi on Friday under the government's Operation Ajay. Many students recalled the sound of air raid sirens, rocket fire and screams they witnessed after Hamas attacked Israel on Saturday morning. Hundreds of videos on social media continue to show the disturbing war in Israel and Gaza which has left over 2,800 dead on both sides.
India launched Operation Ajay to facilitate the return of those who wish to come back home from Israel amid escalating tensions with Palestine. The first batch of over 200 Indians, who were evacuated safely, were glad to be back home but recall how they had to rush to shelters multiple times in the wake of rocket attacks by Hamas.
"We woke up to sounds of air raid sirens. We stay in central Israel and I don't know what shape this conflict will take," said Shashwat Singh soon after landing at Delhi airport along with his wife. The Indian government got in touch with its citizens via email. "We packed our bags yesterday morning after receiving a message from the Indian Embassy. They were very helpful. We were able to get in touch with them round the clock," Jaipur native Mini Sharma, also a student, told PTI.
Sounds of air sirens, screams
Suparno Ghosh, a West Bengal native and a first-year PhD student of the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev at Beersheba in Israel, was also among the group of Indians who reached Delhi on the special flight. "We could not know what happened. On Saturday, some rockets were launched. But, we were safe in shelters... the good thing is that the Israeli government has made shelters everywhere, so we were safe," he said.
Several women students also recounted the grim situation they faced when the attacks happened. "It was a panic situation. We are not citizens there, we are just students. So, for us whenever the sirens go on, it's a panic situation for us," Sharma told PTI.
Deepak, another student, said, "We heard sirens on Saturday. We could also hear the sound of the attack. Israeli authorities were instructing us (to take safety measures). I am happy to return home but at the same time sad that our friends are there (in Israel)."
Around 18,000 Indians are currently residing in Israel while about a dozen people are in the West Bank and three to four are in Gaza, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday. The Ministry reiterated that India has advocated for the resumption of direct talks towards establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine living side-by-side and at peace with Israel, while also asserting that it considered the attacks by Hamas as terrorist attacks.
