On Monday, Nepal's foreign ministry reported that ten Nepali students lost their lives, with an additional four sustaining injuries, during a series of rocket attacks carried out by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Israel. These tragic events unfolded in Israel's southern region.
In an official press statement, Nepal's foreign ministry confirmed the unfortunate fate of the ten Nepali nationals during the recent Hamas attack in Israel. These individuals were among a group of 17 Nepali citizens employed on a farm near the Gaza Strip, specifically at Kibbutz Alumim. Two of them managed to escape unharmed, while four others sustained injuries, and one individual remains missing.
Nepal's embassy in Jerusalem said in a statement, "We have received the information of the sad demise of ten Nepali nationals from the site, where the Hamas had launched an attack."
Nepal's Cabinet has taken a significant step by designating October 10th as a day of national mourning. During this solemn day, the nation will unite in remembrance. Additionally, the government has made the crucial decision to collaborate closely with the Israeli government to expedite the repatriation of deceased individuals. Nepal's Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, commonly known as 'Prachanda,' made this announcement.
All 10 people killed in the Hamas attack were students of agriculture from Sudur Paschim University in Western Nepal, according to ministry sources.
The embassy further stated, “We are trying to identify those killed in the incident. Efforts are being made to search for one missing student. The bodies will be brought back to Nepal soon after the identification is completed."
The Nepali government has additionally urged the Israeli government to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made for the injured individuals currently receiving medical treatment.
Furthermore, the ministry stated that it is actively working in conjunction with the Israeli government and the Nepali embassy in Tel Aviv to facilitate the repatriation of Nepali citizens who wish to return to their home country.
“Nepal government is committed to evacuate its nationals from the war-torn region at the earliest,” said the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“A meeting of the coordination mechanism formed under the leadership of Foreign Minister N P Saud is underway at the ministry to take stock of the situation in Israel, to identify Nepalese nationals and to make efforts for rescue Nepalese nationals if necessary,” read the statement issued by secretariat of Foreign Minster Saud.
There are currently 4,500 Nepali nationals working as caregivers in Israel. A total of 265 Nepali students are studying in Israel under the ‘Learn and Earn’ programme of the Israeli government. Of them, 119 are from Agriculture and Forestry University, 97 are from Tribhuvan University and 49 are from Sudur Paschim University. All of them are bachelor-level students of agriculture.
Nepal's main opposition CPN-UML has also asked Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to talk to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu to rescue the Nepalis, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.
“Issuing statements and informing the House is not enough. The government must play the role of guardian of its citizens at this time of crisis,” said Padam Giri, the UML chief whip, in Parliament.
Hamas initiated a relentless series of air strikes on Saturday in southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of more than 600 people, including soldiers, and causing injuries to over 1,900 individuals. In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched multiple counterattacks aimed at crippling Hamas' essential infrastructure. This escalation in hostilities has led to a significant loss of life, with approximately 1,000 casualties in both Israel and Gaza, marking one of the most substantial confrontations between the two sides in decades.
The death toll in Israel is expected to rise as a large number of people have been critically wounded, according to the Israeli military.
Palestinian health officials have said that more than 400 people have been killed, with over 2,000 injured.
Hamas is a Palestinian Islamist militant group which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Gaza Strip is home to about 2.3 million people. It is a 41km-long and 10km-wide territory surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea.
