Kathmandu, Oct 9 : Tragedy Strikes: Ten Nepali Students Among Casualties in Israel Amid Hamas Rocket Attacks
Nepal’s foreign ministry has confirmed the heartbreaking news that ten Nepali students lost their lives, with four others injured, during a series of rocket attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Israel. The attacks by Hamas targeted the southern region of Israel and resulted in a devastating loss of life.
Hamas initiated a barrage of air strikes in southern Israel, leading to the unfortunate deaths of over 600 individuals, including soldiers, and causing injuries to more than 1,900 people. In response to these attacks, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched multiple counterattacks, aiming at Hamas’ critical infrastructure. The escalating violence has taken a toll, with approximately 1,000 casualties in Israel and Gaza, marking one of the most significant escalations of conflict between the two sides in decades.
Nepal’s foreign ministry issued a press statement, confirming the tragic loss of ten Nepali nationals during the recent Hamas attacks in Israel. These individuals were part of a group of 17 Nepali nationals working on a farm near the Gaza Strip, with two managing to escape safely, four sustaining injuries, and one remaining missing.
Nepal’s embassy in Jerusalem also issued a statement, stating, “We have received information regarding the unfortunate demise of ten Nepali nationals in the area where Hamas launched an attack.”
All ten victims of the Hamas attack were students studying agriculture at Sudur Paschim University in Western Nepal, according to sources within the ministry.
Currently, there are approximately 4,500 Nepali nationals working as caregivers in Israel, and 265 Nepali students are pursuing their studies in Israel under the ‘Learn and Earn’ program initiated by the Israeli government. Of these students, 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 majoring in agriculture.
Efforts are underway to identify the victims and locate the missing student, with plans to repatriate the bodies to Nepal once the identification process is completed. The Nepal government has also appealed to the Israeli government to provide necessary assistance to the injured individuals currently receiving medical treatment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it is working closely with the Israeli government and the embassy in Tel Aviv to facilitate the return of Nepali nationals who wish to come back to Nepal. “The Nepal government is committed to evacuating its nationals from the war-torn region as soon as possible,” the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed.
A coordination mechanism, led by Foreign Minister N P Saud, is actively assessing the situation in Israel, identifying Nepalese nationals affected by the conflict, and planning efforts for their rescue if needed.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s main opposition party, CPN-UML, has urged Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to engage with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, to facilitate the rescue of Nepali citizens.
As the conflict continues, the death toll in Israel is anticipated to rise due to the severity of injuries sustained by a significant number of people, as reported by the Israeli military. On the Palestinian side, health officials have reported more than 400 fatalities and over 2,000 injuries. Hamas, an Islamist militant group, has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007. The Gaza Strip is a densely populated territory measuring 41km in length and 10km in width, enclosed by Israel, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea.
