KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 8Ten Nepali nationals studying in Israel lost their lives to attacks launched by Hamas militants in areas close to Gaza.

A high-level source said the list of those killed has been shared with government authorities. Israel battles Hamas militants as country's death toll from mass incursion reaches 600 Home Minister shows concern over status of Nepali nationals in Israel According to the source, those who were killed in Hamas attacks include: Narayan Prasad Neupane, Kailali; Ganesh Kumar Nepali, Bajhang; Ashish Chadhary, Kailali; Dipesh Raj Bist, Darchula; Anand Sah, Dhanusha; Rajesh Kumar Swarnakar, Sunsari; Rajan Phulara, Doti; Padam Thapa, Doti; Prabesh Bhandari, Salyan; and Lokendra Singh Dhami, Darchula.According to the source, Pramod KC (Salyan) and Birendra Chaudhary (Kailali) are safe. Bidhan Sejwal (Salyan) Prabin Dangi (Dang) Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary (Kailali) and Himanchal Kattel (Gorkha) have been hospitalized; and contact has been established with Bipin Joshi (Kanchanpur).A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, said the reports sent by the Nepali Embassy in Israel said that they feared the 10 Nepalis were dead but that news was yet to be confirmed.The MoFA source said they would be able to give names of casualties only after confirming the news from multiple sources.

The source said that a confirmed report could come only after the Israeli government took all the areas that had come under attack under its control.Earlier today, Foreign Minister NP Saud told the House of Representatives that there could be some casualties among Nepali nationals living in Israel.Minister Saud said that there were 4,500 Nepali nationals who were working in Israel as caregivers.Two-hundred-and sixty-five Nepalis had gone to Israel to study there under the Israeli government's 'learn and earn programme.' A total of 119 Nepalis had gone from Nepal Agriculture University, 97 people from Tribhuvan University and 49 students from Sudurpaschim University.Out of 49 students from Sudurpaschim University, 17 had been studying at Kibuj Alumin in Israel.

This is one of the areas that came under Hamas attack.Minister Saud said that out of 17 Nepali students studying close to the Gaza area, two were safe and unharmed and three students were undergoing treatment at the local hospital.

The minister said that contacts had not been established with some among the remaining 12 Nepali students and hence there could be some casualties among the remaining 12 Nepali students.He said all mechanisms were being deployed to take stock of the situation.The Government of Nepal has taken this attack on Israel seriously, the minister added.The government has formed a mechanism under Foreign Minister Saud.

Minister Saud said that the mechanism led by him would take stock of the situation in the areas where Nepali students were studying, rescue them and do other necessary things.Minister Saud said the Nepali Embassy in Israel was taking initiative to provide for the treatment of injured Nepali students.He said the Israeli prime minister's statement that Israel was at war meant that the security situation in Israel would be complex and sensitive for some time.The minister said that the government was fully committed to rescue Nepalis in Israel, provide treatment and facilitate other processes that might be necessary.A version of this article appears in the print on October 9, 2023, of The Himalayan Times .

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