Nervous But in Touch with Embassy, say Indian Students in Israel After Hamas Attack

Jerusalem, 8 October, 2023 (TPS) -- Tel Aviv, October 8 (ANI) Several Indian students in Israel have said that they feel nervous and scared in the face of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and are in constant touch with the Indian Embassy.

An Indian student in Israel, Goku Manavalan said: “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…”

Another student, Vimal Krishnasamy Manivannan Chitra, said the attack was very intense and scary. He said the “Indian Embassy is in touch with us in the group. They are keeping a check on us…”

A student, Aditya Karunanithi Nivedita, said, “…It was all very sudden we did not expect it, because there are religious holidays in Israel going on. 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…”

A major upheaval took place in the Middle East on Saturday, when the Hamas terror group launched a “surprise attack”, firing a barrage of rockets into southern and central Israel, infiltrating communities near the Gaza border, and taking hostages back to the Strip.

More than 300 people have been killed and 1,590 more were injured and the numbers are expected to climb.

Israel launched “Operation Swords of Iron,” striking a number of targets in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel’s response to the Hamas incursion will “exact a huge price” from the militant group.

This was followed by the Israeli air force launching airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, hitting 17 military compounds and four operational command centers belonging to Hamas.

“We are at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the State of Israel and its citizens. We have been in this since the early morning hours. I convened the heads of the security establishment and ordered, first of all, to clear out the communities that have been infiltrated by terrorists. This currently is being carried out,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.