Shillong : Twenty-seven people from Meghalaya, who are on a holy pilgrimage to Jerusalem are stranded in Bethlehem, as Israel-Palestine war escalates on Saturday.
Amid chaos and mayhem, the stranded citizens from Meghalaya on Saturday sent an SOS to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and prompting him to seek the help of Ministry of External Affairs to ensure their safe passage.
“27 citizens of Meghalaya who travelled for the Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem are stuck in Bethlehem due to the tension between Israel and Palestine. I am in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure their safe passage back home,” Sangma wrote on X.
On Saturday, the Indian Embassy in Israel
has issued an important advisory for Indian nationals asking Indian citizens to exercise caution and remain vigilant, as Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, launched a major attack on Israel, leading to heightened tensions in the area.
“In view of the current situation in Israel, all Indian nationals in Israel are requested to remain vigilant and observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities. Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary movement, and stay close to safety shelters, the Embassy said in its advisory,” the Indian Embassy advisory shared on X. The Embassy has also shared helpline number +97235226748 or send a message to cons1.telaviv@mea.gov.in.
The advisory also directed Indian nationals to refer to the Israeli Home Front Command website (https://www.oref.org.il/en) for additional information and preparedness resources.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that the Jewish state was “at war” on Saturday, after the ruling Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel at daybreak.
“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.
Expressing shock at the Hamas attack on Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India stands in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.
“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,” Modi wrote on X.
