The first charter flight to facilitate the return of Indian citizens stranded in Israel will leave Thursday evening from the Ben Gurion airport, sources said, amid the country's raging war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

About 230 Indians living in Israel will be leaving for India on a “first come first serve” basis on the 9 PM flight on Thursday, informed sources told PTI. This flight has been arranged to facilitate the return of those who were unable to do so because Air India had immediately suspended its flight on the day fighting began on October 7, and its commercial operation remains suspended till now.