There are four Indians in Gaza, said Arindam Bagchi (File)
New Delhi:
There are four Indians in Gaza and the situation is not conducive to evacuation at present, the Ministry of External Affairs said, adding that they will be repatriated at the earliest opportunity.
“The situation in Gaza is difficult for any evacuation, but if we get a chance, we will get them out,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
“One of them is in the West Bank,” he said.
There have been no reports of any Indian deaths or injuries in Gaza, he said, while “strongly condemning” the terror attack on Israel.
One Indian, a caregiver in Ashkelon in southern Israel, was injured during the war between Israel and Hamas. She was on a video call with her husband when a barrage of Hamas rockets stormed Israel on October 7, a day of the Sabbath and a Jewish holiday.
India has expressed concern over civilian casualties and the humanitarian situation, Mr Bachi said, speaking about the horrific airstrike on a Gaza hospital that killed more than 500 people.
“You saw the Prime Minister’s tweet. The Prime Minister has expressed concern over the deaths of civilians and offered his condolences to the families. India condemns all forms of violence,” he said, adding, “On the Palestinian issue, our position is in favor of direct negotiations for a two-state solution.”
The MEA spokesperson also urged the international community to come together to fight terrorism in all its forms.
Airstrikes on a hospital complex in the Gaza Strip killed at least 500 people late Monday night, officials in the Hamas-held Palestinian territory said. It blamed Israel for the attack, leading to widespread condemnation and anger. However, Israel denied any involvement, calling it a “misfire” by Hamas, and subsequently released a large number of satellite photos and “before-after” images of the hospital bombing.
India has repatriated 1,200 people from Israel, including 18 Nepali citizens, in five flights under Operation Ajay. Delhi has also provided nearly $30 million in aid to Palestine between 2000 and 2023.
