Operation Sindhu: First batch of 160 Indians brought back from Israel through Jordan

The initial batch of evacuation was coordinated by Indian missions in Israel and Jordan since Indian nationals present in Israel were always living in suspense with the ringing of sirens, frequently going for refuge in bunkers and safe rooms alongside Iranian missiles and drone defenses.

With Israeli airspace closed and commercial flights suspended, Indian missions in Israel and Jordan jointly evacuated 160 Indian citizens in the first flight under Operation Sindhu on Sunday, an embassy official said.

The missions organized the first batch of evacuees from Israel due to Indian citizens living in Israel never ceasing to fear that they would hear the screaming of sirens, normally fleeing to bunkers and safe and secure rooms from Iranian drones and missiles.

"First batch of 160 Indian citizens evacuated from Israel have crossed safely into the Israel-Jordan border and are in Jordan safely," authorities reported to PTI.

"Arrangements have been made for them to come back to India, special flight for early tomorrow morning," they said.

The Indian nationals had earlier reached the Jordanian border to be evacuated, sources in the Indian embassy informed PTI.

Their transit and accommodation are being arranged by the Indian embassy in Amman.

India had launched Operation Sindhu a week back to evacuate Indians from Iran and Israel as ties between the two countries soured.

The Indian mission in Tel Aviv recently installed a 24/7 control room to monitor all facets of the evacuation operation, the source added.

The control center requested Indian citizens to self-register online and created a detailed database of Indians in Israel, it added.

"Evacuation priorities were established based on medical emergencies, the presence of young children and infants, women, and students. The embassy officials took the initiative of calling registrants by phone and email to verify travel plans and allocating them to available evacuation flights," the source added.

The ground reality is being monitored closely at the highest echelons of the government, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself being kept informed on a constant basis about the safety and security of the Indian citizens in real-time, the source further added.

"This operation reflects India's unshakeable commitment to security and well-being of its nationals overseas. Operation Sindhu is another testament to India's reputation as a trustworthy 'first responder' to international crises," said a release issued by India.

The initial group of Indian citizens to be evacuated reached the pick-up points in Tel Aviv and Haifa on Sunday morning and were then transported by road to Sheikh Hussein Bridge on the Israeli-Jordanian border, about 120 kilometres from here. 

After immigration and border formalities at the Israeli-Jordanian border, the group went on to Amman Airport, another 120 kilometres of journey.

Arvind Shukla, a researcher from the Hebrew University, who left early on Sunday, described "the smooth and well planned process" of the embassy in "trying conditions" as impeccable, and said to PTI: "I have completed the visa procedure and I am already on the Jordanian side. The embassy was very helpful in ensuring that our passage was smooth, and we were taken care of."

The governments of Jordan and Israel helped ease significant aid in helping Indians pass safely and in order across the border, the Tel Aviv mission reported.

The Indian Embassy in Jordan also helped play a significant role in giving the evacuees a warm welcome at the border to enable them to proceed further to Amman Airport, it said.

Special flights from New Delhi to Amman have been organized by the Ministry of External Affairs to return Indian citizens safely home.

There are also going to be some flights that will depart from Egypt in the next few days, as there are a large number of Indians residing in the south of Israel.

Operation Sindhu is a follow-up to high-profile evacuation operations such as Operation Ganga, Operation Devi Shakti, Operation Kaveri, and Operation Ajay, where Indians were evacuated from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Israel, respectively.

"These operations are a reflection not just of India's increasing global stature but also of its operational capability and deep sense of responsibility towards its diaspora," an embassy official said.

"Indian Government always gives top priority to the safety and well-being of Indians abroad. The government will keep a close eye on the situation. The embassy keeps in constant liaison with the community all the time to give them all possible assistance," the official said.

The Indian embassy in Israel again reached out to its citizens on Sunday to register for regular updates and assistance, and provided a 24/7 helpline number.

They are over 40,000 Indian nationals living in Israel, working as caregivers, workers, students, professionals and many others.