Bhubaneswar: Several students from Odisha are stuck in Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas, a source said Wednesday.
According to the source, around 50 Odia students who were studying in various universities in Israel were stuck inside their houses due to continuous rocket attacks by Hamas. As instructed by Israel Defence Force (IDF), they run inside bunkers after hearing sirens.
The father of a stranded Odia student said that the Israeli government has provided all sorts of help to the Indian students so far. However, students are unable to return to India as commercial flight services remain suspended from Israel.
The source further said that the students are in contact with the Indian embassy.
Also read: Odisha train tragedy: All 28 unclaimed bodies cremated by BMC
Notably, airstrikes pounded neighbourhoods throughout the night and into Wednesday as Israel stepped up its offensive on the Gaza Strip in response to an unprecedented attack by Hamas.
The war, which has claimed at least 2,100 lives on both sides, is expected to escalate. The weekend attack that Hamas said was retribution for worsening conditions for Palestinians under Israeli occupation has inflamed Israel’s determination to crush the group’s hold in Gaza.
PNN
