In the midst of the ongoing conflict between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has penned a letter to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, appealing for intervention to ensure the safety of Indian citizens currently residing in Israel.
In the letter dated October 9, CM Vijayan expressed concern for the approximately 7,000 individuals hailing from Kerala who find themselves in Israel during these turbulent times. He highlighted the immense hardships faced by these civilians due to the ongoing hostilities, causing significant anxiety among their family members.
CM’s letter to Union Minister Jaishankar read, “I request your good self to intervene in every possible manner to ensure the safety of our citizens in Israel.”
The conflict took a personal toll when a woman from Kerala, working as a caregiver in Israel, was injured during the recent clashes.
On Monday, the Kerala Secretariat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) issued a statement, urging the central government to take immediate measures to ensure the safety of Keralites currently stranded in Israel. The statement addressed the root causes of the conflict, emphasizing the need for a democratic resolution to the widespread occupation of Israeli and Palestinian territories and the loss of Palestinian lives. It called for the urgent implementation of a UN Security Council resolution promoting a bilateral solution and the protection of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
The statement further demanded efforts to achieve peace by putting an end to the clashes that have claimed the lives of innocent civilians.
Meanwhile, the Israel-Hamas conflict has entered its fourth day, with reports of at least 900 Israeli casualties and 700 deaths on the Palestinian side. Israel has been engaged in a military operation against Hamas terrorists since October 7.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi stated on Sunday that the Indian government is actively working to bring back Indian students who are stranded in Israel. She assured that the Prime Minister’s Office was closely monitoring the situation and that substantial efforts were underway to repatriate the stranded students. Lekhi referred to previous successful evacuation operations, such as Operation Ganga and Vande Bharat, as examples of the government’s commitment to assisting Indian citizens in distress abroad.
In response to the rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip by Hamas, the Indian Embassy in Israel issued an advisory on Saturday, urging all Indian nationals in the region to remain vigilant and adhere to safety protocols. The advisory emphasized the importance of caution, avoiding unnecessary movement, and staying close to safety shelters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his condolences and solidarity with Israel in the face of the terrorist attacks, stating, “I was deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour,” in a statement on social media.
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