10 Nepali nationals died in Hamas’ attack in Israel

Kathmandu / Oct 8: At least 10 Nepali nationals were killed in the Hamas group’s indiscriminate attack against civilians in Israel in the past 24 hours.

Although the Embassy of Nepal in Israel has sent preliminary details of those killed and injured in the terrorist attack to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), senior government officials said they are yet to verify the details.

“We are not immediately in a position to release the details of those killed and injured since the areas where Nepali nationals said to have been killed are still under the control of the Hamas group. There are also reports that a large number of civilians have been kidnapped by the group,” said Joint Secretary at the MoFA Sharad Raj Aran.

MoFA officials said they will formally release the details of those killed and other affected Nepali nationals as a result of the Hamas attack by Monday.

Sources quoting the Embassy of Nepal in Israel said those feared killed in the terrorist attack include Narayan Prasad Neupane from Ghodaghodi-4, Kailali; Ganesh Kumar Nepali from Jaya Prithvi-6, Bajhang; Ashish Chaudhary from Bauniya-3, Kailali; Dipesh Raj Bist from Lekam-5, Darchula and Aanand Sah from Sapahi-6, Dhanusha.

Likewise, Rajesh Kumar Swarnkar from Madhuban-1, Sunsari; Rajan Phulara from Pachanali-3, Doti; Padam Thapa from Lamikhal-8, Doti; Prabesh Bhandari from Sharada-3, Salyan and Lokendra Singh Dhami from Malikarjun-4, Darchula are also among those feared killed in the gunfire.

Officials at the MoFA in Kathmandu, however, have not confirmed the list of those feared killed. “We will officially release the details only after we are able to verify the details,” said Aran. It is said that most of those feared to have been killed are students working in different agriculture farms as a part of Israeli government’s ‘Learn and Earn’ program for Nepali agriculture students.

As per the government data, 4,500 Nepali nationals have been working as caregivers in Israel. Likewise, 265 Nepali students have been studying under the ‘Learn and Earn’ program of the Israeli government. Of them, 119 are students of Agriculture and Forestry University, 97 belong to Tribhuvan University and 49 others are students of Sudurpaschim University.

Israeli media reports said at least 600 people have been killed in the surprise cross-border incursion by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip on Saturday. It is said that several hundred others have been allegedly kidnapped and held hostage by the Hamas group.