Israel-Palestine Conflict: Indian Students 'Nervous and Scared' Following Hamas Attack, Say in Touch With Embassy

On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a sudden attack on Israel, near the Gaza Strip which has left many Indian students in Israel “nervous and scared.” The Indian community is in continuous touch with the Indian Embassy as well, Goku Manavalan, an Indian student in Israel told ANI.

“I am very nervous and scared…Thankfully we have shelter and Israeli police forces nearby. So far we are safe…We are in touch with Indian Embassy people, we have a good Indian community around and we are connected…”

The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel was very “intense and scary,” said another Indian student Vimal Krishnasamy Manivannan Chitra adding that the Indian Embassy is in touch with them and “are keeping a check on us…”

“…It was all very sudden we did not expect it, because there are religious holidays in Israel going on,” Aditya Karunanithi Nivedita, another student studying in Israel told the news agency. “We got the sirens early in the morning at around 5:30 am. We were in bunkers for around 7-8 hours the sirens went off…We are asked to stay inside our homes…We are in contact with the Indian Embassy and they will update us for the future things…”

Following the attack by the Hamas militants, more than 200 people were killed, and at least 1104 people were injured. Several Israelis have been held as hostages in Gaza. At around 6:30 am (local time), a barrage of rocket fire began from Gaza into Israel, hitting several cities including Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Gedera, and Ashkelon.

Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif said that the assault on Israel was a response to attacks on women. He called the operation “Al-Aqsa Storm.” The Israeli Mayor, and head of the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council, Ofir Liebstein, has been killed in the deadly rocket fire as well.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “We are at war” and launched “Operation Swords of Iron” striking a number of targets in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli air force also launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, hitting 17 military compounds and four operational command centres belonging to Hamas.