KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 7

Nine Nepali nationals were injured when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched 'surprise air and ground' attacks on Israel from Gaza today.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release saying two among the injured are in serious condition. 'We have been informed that a farm, where 14 Nepalis were working, was also under attack. Nine of the Nepalis have been reportedly injured while two of them are in serious condition,' MoFA said in its release.

The Embassy of Nepal in Israel is in close communication with the Nepalis living in the areas under attack. The embassy is also in contact and coordinating with Israeli authorities for the safety, security and rescue of Nepalis as well as medical treatment of the injured.

Given the situation, Nepali nationals in Israel have been requested to remain cautious and follow the safety measures advised by the authorities, MoFA added.

Indian media outlets reported that Nepali students in Harzliya under the 'Learn and Earn' programme of the Israeli government have been injured. President of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NA- FEA) Rajendra Bhandari said that Israel being a powerful country was relatively safe. This terrorist attack does not mean that Israel is not safe for our nationals to work and study in Israel because terror attacks can happen at any place even in developed countries,' Bhandari said and added that since there was a history of animosity between Jews and Muslims, Nepal government needed to alert Nepalis going to Israel to avoid work and study risk zones, particularly Gaza from where Hamas and other groups launch attacks on Israel.

Nepal government has strongly condemned the 'terrorist' attack in Israel today that caused loss of precious human lives and injured many more.

'In this critical hour, we convey our solidarity with the Government of Israel,' MoFA said in its release. The Government of Nepal, MoFA added, extends heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the people and Government of Israel as well as the victims of this cruel attack and their families. We wish for speedy recovery of the injured.

A news report published by www.hindustantimes.com stated that Nepalis are in the hostel and shielding themselves. The area is inaccessible because of intense fighting.

CNN reported that least 40 people have been killed and over 700 people have been injured in the militants' attack.

Israel's Ambassador to Nepal Hanan Goder said his country was at war with Hamas 'terrorists.' He said there were hundred casualties on the Israeli side, but the number of causalities can go up as Israeli forces have not cleared all the areas where terrorists infiltrated.

The Ambassador said 100 'Hamas terrorists' infiltrated around 20 or even more places and launched hundreds of rockets against civilian targets within Israel. Our women, children and civilians have been targeted, he added.

Ambassador Goder said that the situation was not clear even now as gun battles were still going on between Israeli forces and terrorists in around seven places.

He said many Nepalis were working or studying in these areas.

The ambassador thanked the Government of Nepal for condemning the terrorist attack on Israel and expressing solidarity with Israel.

A version of this article appears in the print on October 8, 2023, of The Himalayan Times