India has begun evacuating citizens from Israel amid the looming threat of a wider war in the Middle East. The announcement came days after the country launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indians stranded in Iran. The Embassy also reiterated its earlier advisories urging all Indian citizens in Israel to remain vigilant and strictly follow the safety guidelines issued by local authorities and the Home Front Command.
“In view of the recent developments between Israel and Iran, the Government of India has decided to evacuate from Israel those Indian nationals who wish to leave. Their travel from Israel to India will be facilitated through the land borders and thereafter by air to India. In view of the above, the Embassy of India in Tel Aviv would be making arrangements for the evacuation of Indians. All Indian nationals are requested to register themselves with the Embassy of India in Tel Aviv,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press note.
The decision was announced hours after an Iranian missile struck a hospital in Beersheba area of Israel — injuring around 40 people and prompting calls for the ‘elimination’ of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to an update shared by The Times of Israel, 271 people arrived at hospitals after the Iranian ballistic missile attack. This included four people in a serious condition.
India has already evacuated more than 100 students from northern Iran earlier this week as both countries traded strikes. The students, including 90 from Jammu and Kashmir, were moved from Tehran to Armenia earlier this week as explosions and aerial attacks rocked Iranian cities. The group had crossed the land border into Armenia under the supervision of Indian Missions on Tuesday. They eventually departed from Yerevan on a special flight and arrived in New Delhi on Thursday morning.
(With inputs from agencies)