INTERNATIONAL
Kathmandu, October 9, 2023
In a recent news announcement, ten Nepali students lost their lives, and four others sustained injuries during armed attacks by the Palestinian Islamist group, Hamas, in Israel on Saturday. The incident has sent shockwaves across Nepal and has raised concerns about the safety of Nepali citizens abroad.
According to the Nepali embassy in Tel Aviv, there is still one student missing in the aftermath of the attacks. The assault targeted 17 Nepali students in Kibbutz Alumim, an area near the Gaza Strip, where only two individuals, fortunate to be under police protection, remained unharmed. The injured students are currently receiving medical treatment at a local hospital, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Kanta Rizal, the Nepali ambassador from Israel, stated, “Our embassy is working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to arrange for the repatriation of the bodies after examination. We are also in contact with the Israeli authorities.”
Earlier, Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud had informed the House of Representatives about the situation of Nepali citizens in Israel. Out of the 17 Nepali students in Kibbutz Alumim, 12 were reported missing, with some feared to have lost their lives.
The victims of this tragic incident were students of agriculture from Sudur Paschim University.
Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, launched a massive armed attack on Israel, which began on Saturday.
Nepali in Israel:
Minister Saud also disclosed that approximately 4,500 Nepali nationals are employed in Israel as caregivers. Furthermore, a total of 265 Nepali students are pursuing their studies in Israel under the ‘Learn and Earn’ program initiated by the Israeli government. Among them, 119 students are from Agriculture and Forestry University, 97 from Tribhuvan University, and 49 from Sudur Paschim University. All of these students were pursuing bachelor-level degrees in agriculture.
In response to the crisis, the government has established a mechanism led by the foreign minister to coordinate and take necessary measures for the safety and rescue of Nepali citizens. The mechanism will continuously monitor the situation and make decisions accordingly.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the Nepali Embassy in Israel to rescue Nepali citizens, provide them with updates on the situation, and urge them to adhere to safety instructions and regulations issued by the Israeli government.
However, the situation took a bad turn in a farm where 14 Nepali citizens were employed came under attack in Kibbutz Alumim, located in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip. Reports indicate that Hamas militants fired thousands of rockets and sent fighters into Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip in an unprecedented surprise dawn attack.
Hanan Godar, the Israeli ambassador to Nepal, shared that around 350 Israelis, including civilian women and children, lost their lives, and hundreds were kidnapped and taken to Gaza during these tragic events.
Various political parties in Nepal have called on the government to take diplomatic initiatives to rescue Nepali citizens. Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba urged the government to ascertain the exact number of Nepali nationals in Israel and ensure their safety and repatriation. Similar demands were made by the main opposition CPN-UML, which called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to engage with his Israeli counterpart to facilitate the rescue of Nepali citizens.
In this critical time, the government is being urged to play a proactive role in ensuring the well-being of its citizens abroad.
Contact Information for the Embassy of Nepal in Israel:
- Tel: +972(0)35168085
- Ambassador: Kanta Rizal +972545864423
- First Secretary: Arjun Ghimire +972528289300
- Email: nepal.embassy@012.net.il
[Source: Kathmandu Post, Published on October 8, 2023]
