First Flight of Operation Wings of Dawn Brings Over 250 Bnei Menashe Immigrants to Israel

A group of over 250 Bnei Menashe immigrants from India arrived at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel on Thursday, April 23, 2026, as part of a government-led operation to facilitate their immigration to the country.

The immigrants, who claim descent from the biblical tribe of Manasseh, were welcomed by relatives and well-wishers upon arrival, many waving Israeli flags and celebrating with music and emotional reunions. The landing marked the first of three expected flights over the next two weeks, with approximately 600 new immigrants from the Bnei Menashe community anticipated during this period.

The operation, named “Wings of Dawn,” is a joint initiative led by Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Absorption and The Jewish Agency for Israel. It follows a government decision made in November 2025 and was initiated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Aliyah and Absorption Ofir Sofer, and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich.

Over the past two decades, approximately 4,000 members of the Bnei Menashe community have made Aliyah to Israel under earlier government decisions. Under the current plan, around 1,200 more are expected to arrive by the end of 2026, with a goal of bringing approximately 4,800 additional members by 2030 from the northeastern Indian states of Mizoram and Manipur.

In total, about 6,000 olim are projected to arrive as part of Operation “Wings of Dawn,” completing the Aliyah of the Bnei Menashe community to Israel. Upon arrival, the new immigrants will first stay in absorption centers in Nof HaGalil (Nazareth Illit), where they will also be reunited with relatives who previously immigrated to Israel.

The Bnei Menashe community maintains that they are descendants of Manasseh, one of the ten northern tribes of ancient Israel exiled over 2,700 years ago. Their journey to Israel has been supported by advocacy groups and Israeli governmental bodies recognizing their historical connection to the Jewish people.