Nepal Airlines plane to leave for Israel tonight to rescue Nepalis

The government has decided to send an aircraft of Nepal Airlines to rescue Nepalis in Israel.

Nepal Airlines Corporation spokesperson Ramesh Paudel said that preparations are being made to send an aircraft to Israel.

“The Tourism Ministry has directed the Nepal Airlines Corporation to keep an aircraft on standby. We are making preparations for the same,” he said.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the aircraft of the national flag carrier will leave for Israel via Dubai to rescue Nepalis at 11 pm today.

The Foreign Ministry was of the opinion that the rescue was delayed after not getting the route for chartered flight.

Nepali nationals in Israel have been urging the government to rescue them at the earliest following the attacks by Hamas.

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister NP Saud held a telephone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen and urged him for necessary coordination and facilitation to repatriate the bodies of Nepali students killed in the attacks by Hamas in Israel.

In response, the Israeli Foreign Minister expressed his commitment to extend necessary assistance to send the bodies to Nepali students back home.

Ten Nepali students have been killed while 55 from Israeli bunkers and 72 from Lebanon have been shifted to safer places since the war broke out four days ago, Nepali Ambassador to Israel Kanta Rizal said.

Over 350 Nepali people eager to return home have so far registered their names at Nepali Embassy.

Earlier, the International Relations and Tourism Committee had directed the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and Foreign Ministry to make arrangements to repatriate the bodies of 10 Nepalis killed in the attack.