October 13: Two hundred and fifty-four Nepali nationals rescued from Israel have been brought to Nepal early this morning. They were brought home on a wide-body aircraft of the Nepal Airlines Corporation. Government officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud, had gone to Israel to pick them up.    
Talking to the media at the Tribhuvan International Airport after the rescue flight, Minister Saud said 254 of the 503 Nepalis who wanted to return back from Israel have been brought in this rescue flight and the remaining others would be brought soon.    
"Five hundred and fifty-seven Nepalis had provided their details in response to the request of the Embassy of Nepal based in Tel Aviv, Israel for relocation to safer places and to return to Nepal. Out of the 557 Nepalis, 503 had applied to return to home and among them 254 have returned home today with us," the Foreign Affairs Minister said.    
According to him, 54 Nepalis who requested to be relocated from risky areas have been shifted to safe zone in Israel. He added that four Nepali citizens were injured in the attack by Hamas militants in southern parts of Israel and one among them has returned today after treatment, another one has been discharged from hospital while two others are receiving treatment in hospital in Israel.    
"A search continues for Bipin Joshi who has gone missing following the attack. We will share the information as soon as we get additional information," Minister Saud said.    
The Minister for Foreign Affairs said 10 Nepali students who had gone to Israel from the Far-west University of Nepal were killed in the attack by the Hamas group and coordination is being established with the Government of Israel to bring their bodies to Nepal.    
"The Israeli side has stated that it will take some time for handing over the bodies in order to complete the legal process and keep separate details of each and every deceased. The process is delayed because the number of bodies in Israel is currently very high," he said and requested the families and relatives of the deceased Nepalis to have patience for some time.    
Minister Saud maintained that the government will make arrangement to bring home the remaining Nepalis who could not be brought this time.    
The Minister for Foreign Affairs thanked the media and media persons, the Government of Israel and the Government of Nepal, the Embassy of Israel in Nepal and the Embassy of Nepal in Israel and the members of the flight crew, who helped in the rescue of Nepali nationals.    
Nepal Police had kept three buses on stand-by at the airport to take the rescued Nepalis to various destinations.    
According to the data of the ministry, there are currently 265 Nepali students studying in Israel and about 4,500 working in various sectors. The 265 Nepali students went to Israel under the Israeli government’s 'Learn and Earn' programme. -- RSS