JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Hundreds of members of the Bnei Menashe community from northeastern India arrived in Israel this week in a special immigration operation aimed at bringing remaining eligible families to the Jewish state.

The first group landed near Tel Aviv as part of a broader effort expected to bring several hundred immigrants from India in multiple phases, according to Israeli officials.

Many of the arrivals are expected to begin life in absorption centers before moving to permanent communities in northern Israel, where some will reunite with relatives who immigrated in earlier years.

The latest arrivals come as regional tensions remain elevated, adding added attention to the timing of the operation. Indian authorities indicated the migration proceeded through legal channels while emphasizing existing travel cautions related to the security situation.

Immigration from the Bnei Menashe community has taken place for years, but the latest mission marks one of the more significant recent efforts to bring remaining members of the community to Israel.