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A Nepal Airlines plane that had left for Israel this morning to evacuate Nepalis from war-torn Israel will land at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu at 9 pm today.

The national flag-carrier plane took off for Israel from Kathmandu at 3.30 am today.

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud himself has left for Israel on the same plane for diplomatic coordination to rescue the Nepalis from the war-hit West Asian country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson Sewa Lamsal said a 250-seat wide-body aircraft of the Nepal Airlines has left for Israel to bring the Nepalis wishing to return home.

Ten Nepali students were killed and some others were injured in the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas in the southern part of Israel on Saturday. The status of one student is still unknown.

The Nepali Embassy in Israel has been collecting, through an online registration system, the names of Nepalis who want to be relocated or rescued to safer places and who wish to return to Nepal.

Delay in repatriation of bodies

The repatriation of the bodies of the 10 Nepalis killed in the attack may take time as the legal process of handing over the bodies has not been completed.

It may be noted that the Government of Israel has declared a war against Hamas.

Spokesperson Lamsal said the bodies would be brought to Nepal at the soonest once the Israeli government completed all the legal processes including the post-mortem.

The leadership of CPN-UML Sudurpaschim Province has been elected unopposed.

Krishna Prasad Jaisi of Achham has been elected unanimously to the post of Chairman.

Along with Jaisi, Kamal Timilsina of Achham, Bh arat Bahadur Saud of Achham and Bachhan Bahadur Singh of Kanchanpur had filed their nominations for the post of Chairman.

Jaisi was elected as the Chairman after Timilsina, Saud and Singh withdrew their nominations.

Similarly, Kali Bahadur Shahi has been elected unopposed as the Vice-Chairman.

Shahi was elected unanimously after Baldev Regmi of Bajura, Hari Singh Saud of Kailali, Rana Bahadur Mahara of Kanchanpur and Gajendra Bahadur Shahi of Dadeldhura, who had field their nominations for the post of Vice-Chairperson, withdrew their candidacies.

Likewise, Rana Bahadur Chand of Kailali has been elected unopposed as the Secretary.

Jeevan Kumar Bam, Rajesh Khati and Ratan Raj Regmi of Kailali had filed their nominations for the post of Secretary.  All of them withdrew their candidacies.

Bhagarati Bista of Kailali has been elected as the Deputy Secretary (Woman).

Kanda Kala Rana of Kailali and Archana Gahatraj of Doti had filed their nominations for the post of Deputy Secretary.

Bista was elected as the Deputy Secretary after Rana and Gahatraj withdrew their nominations.

Similarly, Nar Bahadur Bishwokarma has been unanimously elected as the Deputy Secretary (Open).

Ashok Kumar Chand, Ram Dutta Joshi, Har Dev Joshi, Surendra Bahadur Pal and Ananda Lal Bishwokarma had filed their candidacies for the post of Deputy Secretary (Open).

Nar Bahadur Bishwokarma was elected as the Deputy Secretary after all the five withdrew their nominations.

A joint meeting of the ministers for foreign affairs of Nepal and Sri Lanka is to take place in Kathmandu on December 21-22.

The earlier round of this meeting had to be hosted by Sri Lanka last year. Nepal is hosting the meeting in Kathmandu on the intent of the Sri Lankan government.

Matters related to multi-dimensional aspects of Nepal-Sri Lanka bilateral relations will be discussed in the meeting, informed Ambassador of Nepal to Sri Lanka, Basudev Mishra.

The meeting will widely discuss the measures to expand diplomatic and commercial as well as cultural and educational relations, he said.

Inflow of tourists from Nepal to Sri Lanka and vice-versa has increased in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding Sri Lanka can be a major destination for Nepali tourists.

Nepal and Sri Lanka had established diplomatic ties on July 1, 1957.

Ambassador Mishra expressed his belief that Nepal and Sri Lanka will see a new chapter in the bilateral relations in the coming year.

He further said that bilateral discussions among the vice-chancellors, professors of the universities, high-level government officials and representatives of other non-government agencies have been intensified for the expansion of relationships.

On Oct 7, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a resolute condemnation of the attack orchestrated by Hamas in Israel. 

“The Government of Nepal vehemently denounces the recent act of terrorism in Israel, which tragically resulted in the loss of precious human lives and left many others injured,” the statement read.

The attack claimed the lives of hundreds of people, including ten Nepali students, and left thousands wounded. Notably, subsequent statements from the ministry omitted the term ‘terrorist’, a move that has captured the attention of foreign policy experts and observers. This marks the first instance of Nepali nationals being casualties of a Hamas assault.

However, the ministry officials emphasize that there has been no shift in Nepal’s established policy regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, which dates back to the 1960s. A senior foreign ministry official clarified, “Nepal’s stated policy remains one of condemning terrorist activities, and it does not support Hamas and its actions.” Experts concur, asserting that Nepal's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict remains unaltered.

Formed in 1987 during the uprising against Israel’s presence in Gaza and the West Bank, Hamas has long been associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. Numerous countries, including the US, the UK, Canada, the European Union, and others, designate Hamas as a terrorist organization due to its history of activities such as suicide bombings, kidnappings, and civilian killings. China, however, does not recognize Hamas as a terrorist group.

Nepal regularly engages in discussions concerning Israel and Palestine at the United Nations, and frequently faces multiple proposals related to the issue. On humanitarian grounds, Nepal extends support to Palestine on certain matters, although it does not formally recognize Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. The extreme position taken by Hamas is spoiling all the peace deal attempts. 

Nepal’s voting positions in the UN have, at times, displeased Israel. Notably, in 2021, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution disavowing Jewish ties to the Temple Mount, designating it solely by its Muslim name, al-Haram al-Sharif. While 64 countries, including India, did not support this resolution, Nepal backed it. This was a departure from Nepal’s previous neutral positions on similar votes in 2018, 2019, and 2020. 

Nepal supports the two-state solution, calling for the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. However, Hamas rejects this proposal, complicating the matter, while major powers, including the US, China, Russia, and India, stand in favor of a two-state solution. 

During the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed Nepal's unwavering commitment to peace for the Palestinian people, urging an end to the prolonged conflict. Nepal reiterated its support for a two-state solution, envisioning Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully within internationally recognized borders, aligned with relevant UN resolutions.

Nepal and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1960, with Israel opening its embassy in Kathmandu in March 1961, while Nepal established its embassy in Israel in 1993. Notably, Nepal’s recognition of Israel’s existence and continuous diplomatic relations with the nation set it apart in South Asia until recently.

The Foreign Ministry’s official documents affirm Nepal’s ongoing support for Israel’s right to exist within secure and internationally recognized boundaries. Nepal’s historical involvement in recognizing Israel as an independent state, including visits by prominent leaders, underscores the enduring nature of their diplomatic relations.

 The first democratically elected Prime Minister BP Koirala acknowledged Israel as an independent state at a time when the entire world was yet to do so. Koirala paid an official visit to Israel in 1960, and three years later, the then king, Mahendra Shah, had also paid an official visit to Israel.  

In contrast, Nepal does not maintain diplomatic relations with Palestine, although both nations are members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

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What Nepal said on Israel-Palestine situation

2023: The Palestinian people deserve peace ending the prolonged conflict. Nepal reiterates its support for a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine, living peacefully side by side, within recognized international borders based on the relevant UN resolutions.

2022: Protracted violence and conflicts continue to inflict pain and suffering on Palestinian and Israeli civilians. Nepal reiterates its long-standing view for a two-state solution, whereby Palestine and Israel live side by side in peace and security within the recognized international borders.

2021: In the Middle East, we reiterate our long-standing position and want to see peace and security with a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine living side by side within secure and recognized international borders. 

2020: We would like to see peace and stability in the Middle East with a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with secure and recognized international borders based on relevant United Nations resolutions.

2019: We want to see meaningful steps being taken to resolve the protracted Middle East issue. We support a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with secure and recognized international borders based on relevant United Nations resolutions.

2018: With this commitment we must ensure that the voice of the people struggling for their rights, liberty, freedom and justice in various parts of the world, including Syria, Yemen, Palestine, and many other places must be heard and addressed.