Meghalaya group stranded in Israel crosses over to Egypt

A group of 27 people from Meghalaya, including the hill state's lone Rajya Sabha member Wanweiroy Kharlukhi, were stranded in Bethlehem, Israel following Hamas attack on Israel, in which hundreds were killed and thousands others left injured.

The group, which was stranded in Israel, however managed to cross the border safely and reached Egypt. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma gave this information.

Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said 27 citizens of the state, including Kharlukhi of the ruling National People's Party, as well as his wife and daughter, who had gone to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, were trapped in the war-torn area. “I am in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ensure his safe return home,” Sangma told the media. He said that the state government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring their safe return home.

Chief Minister Sangma in his post on Twitter said, “As per the latest information and through the efforts of the Ministry of External Affairs and our Indian Mission, our 27 citizens of Meghalaya, who were stranded in the war conflict zone between Israel and Palestine, have been safely brought to the border. Have crossed over, they are now in Egypt.”

On October 6, Hamas suddenly attacked Israel. 5000 rockets were fired one after the other and they broke the Israeli security cordon and entered the border areas. Hamas has been raining rockets on Israel since Saturday morning. Israel has also retaliated to this attack by attacking Hamas. According to the news, an Israeli military officer says that 'hundreds of terrorists' have been killed and dozens have been captured in the fighting with Hamas in Gaza and southern Israel. In its statement, the Israeli army has claimed to selectively target Hamas positions.