Operation Ajay
Source: Indain Express
GS II: International Relation
Overview
- News in Brief
- Operation Ajay
- Role of Hamas in the conflict
- A similar Evacuation done by India
Why in the News?
Amid intense fighting between Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas, India is set to get its citizens out of the conflict zone with the Union Ministry of External Affairs launching ‘Operation Ajay’ to facilitate the return of Indian citizens from Israel.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced this operation, emphasizing the safety and well-being of Indian nationals abroad.
News in Brief
- India on Wednesday launched Operation Ajay to repatriate its citizens from Israel.
- The nation came under unprecedented attack by the Hamas militant group that rules the Gaza Strip.
- External Affairs Minister stated the government was fully committed to the safety and well-being of our nationals abroad
- Special charter flights and other arrangements were being put in place.
- Approximately 18,000 Indians, including traders, professionals, and students, reside in Israel.
Operation Ajay
- India’s Embassy in Israel has emailed the first lot of registered Indian citizens for the special flight tomorrow.
- Messages to other registered people will follow for subsequent flights.
- More than 20,000 Indians live in the country which is currently at war with Palestinian group Hamas.
- Stranded Indians had gone to Israel for further studies, business or as tourists.
What is the significance of Operation Ajay?
- Operation Ajay Acts as a model for effective and flexible evacuation procedures, guaranteeing the safety of people during trying circumstances.
- In the face of unanticipated situations, teamwork, readiness, and quick thinking may make a big difference, which emphasizes the value of thorough contingency planning and international collaboration.
Operation Kaveri, which brought back several thousand Indian citizens from strife-torn Sudan in April-May.
Role of Hamas in the conflict
- Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist political organization and militant group involved in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
- Hamas was founded in 1987.
- The aim of establishing an Islamic state in Palestine has been designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union.
- Hamas has been responsible for numerous attacks against Israeli civilians and military targets, including suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and kidnappings.
- The group has also been involved in governance in the Gaza Strip since 2007.
- Hamas’s role in the conflict has been a major obstacle to peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
- Hamas justifies its actions against Israel by claiming that it is fighting to liberate Palestine from Israeli occupation.
- The group also cites Israeli policies such as settlement expansion, the blockade of Gaza, and the treatment of Palestinian prisoners as reasons for its actions.
A similar Evacuation done by India
- Kuwait Airlift (1990): Operation during Iraqi War
- Operation Sukoon (2006): Israel and Lebanon military conflict
- Operation Safe Homecoming (2011): Libyan Civil War
- Operation Maitri (2015): Nepal Earthquake Disaster
- Operation Raahat (2015): Yemen Conflict
- Operation Samudra Setu (2021): COVID-19 pandemic Navel Rescue Operation
- Operation Vande Bharat (2021): During COVID-19 pandemic
- Operation Devi Shakti (2021): Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover
- Operation Ganga (2022): Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Operation Kaveri (2023): Rescue during Sudan
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