Indians in Israel Advised to Remain Alert Amid Rising Tensions

The situation in the region had been fragile since October 7 last year. This was exacerbated by a series of high-profile deaths, including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, head of Hamas’ military wing Mohammed Deif in Gaza, and Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukur in Lebanon. These events increased the risk of a dangerous escalation in the sensitive region.

In response to the heightened tensions, the Embassy of India issued an advisory, urging caution and advising against unnecessary travel within the country. The embassy emphasized that it was closely monitoring the situation and remained in regular contact with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all Indian nationals. Contact details for 24X7 assistance were also provided.

As a result of the escalating tensions, Air India cancelled its Delhi-Tel Aviv flights until August 8, and several other international airlines followed suit. Despite assertions by Israeli authorities that its airspace was safe, the Indian embassy’s advisory urged Indian nationals to exercise caution and avoid travel to Lebanon, even advising those already in Lebanon to leave. The region’s fragile state can be traced back to the significant events of October 7 last year, when Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, leading to a quick retaliation that resulted in a high number of casualties on both sides.

Additionally, violence had flared across the Lebanon border between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in the aftermath of the Hamas attack.