As tensions flare in the Middle East following Iran’s counterattack on Israel, concern has grown over the safety of Nepali citizens living in the region. Bhupal Luitel spoke with Nepali Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, to understand the current situation on the ground, the status of Nepalis there, the embassy’s contingency plans, and the latest updates on Bipin Joshi, the Nepali national who has been missing since the Hamas attack in Oct 2023. Excerpts:
We’ve heard a state of emergency was declared after the counterattacks between Israel and Iran began. What is the current situation there now?
The attack began at 3 pm local time here. Even as I am speaking to you, sirens continue to sound intermittently. The first missile attack on Tel Aviv took place at 9 pm. Then, from 1-2 am to 3-4 am, the attack continued with loud noise. The situation here is fine as of 7 am. People are rushing to bunkers within 90 seconds of the siren and remain there for at least 10 minutes. After Israel launched its attack on Iran, there have been reports of hundreds of drones being launched in response, most of which have been intercepted by Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ defense system. Since the incident began, I’ve been in frequent contact with Nepali government officials and members of the Nepali community, regularly updating them on the situation here.
How many Nepalis are there, and what is their situation?
Neither the Nepali government nor the embassy has accurate data on the actual number of Nepalis in Israel. While the official records only those who came through the G2G (government-to-government) mechanism, there are also Nepalis who arrived via India using Indian passports. Even though they are not counted in official statistics, they continue to send remittances to Nepal—so for practical purposes, they should be considered. This discrepancy makes it difficult to assess the actual number. However, if we include both legal and undocumented individuals, the estimated number of Nepalis in Israel ranges between 5,000 and 7,000. We have contacted the Nepalis and asked them to take help from us but 99 percent of the Nepalis said that they don’t want us to rescue them. There are two reasons for this. One is the job with an attractive salary and the other is the situation where you will not be able to return and get the same job here.
As for the current situation, there is no immediate reason for panic among the Nepali community, but discipline and preparedness are crucial. The most important thing is to strictly follow the safety protocols—this includes immediately going to the bunker when sirens sound, avoiding unnecessary movement outside, and especially refraining from going out during times of active crisis.
It’s difficult to assess how the war will unfold. If it escalates further, what preparations has the embassy made?
We are in constant communication with the Nepali government, Nepali citizens in Israel, and their families back home. If the situation escalates into a full-scale war, our response will be limited by our capabilities and available resources. In such a scenario, we would also seek support from neighboring countries. I am currently in touch with ambassadors from Cyprus, India, Thailand, and others to make contingency plans in case a rescue operation becomes necessary for Nepalis.
Recently, a delegation including Biratnagar Metropolitan City Mayor Nagesh Koirala arrived here amidst much confusion. I met with him and helped facilitate their return to Nepal via Cyprus. At the same time, I’ve come across Nepalis who have only recently arrived in Israel. Many of them are facing challenges—from not understanding Hebrew to feeling unsafe in older bunkers. I’m working with local officials to ensure they receive the support they need.
We have already issued an advisory to all Nepalis here. However, if the war intensifies significantly, I must honestly say that our capacity to evacuate all Nepalis is extremely limited. For comparison, India has around 30,000 to 35,000 citizens here, and it is unlikely they could evacuate everyone at once. Sri Lanka has a similar number, the Philippines about 30,000, and China around 40,000. In such a crisis, every country faces limitations.
We have no choice but to seek international assistance if needed. That said, Nepal has a history of stepping up during crises. If evacuation becomes impossible, the best course of action would be for Nepalis to remain in safe shelters with adequate supplies of food, water, and essentials
It has been about six months since you arrived in Israel as an ambassador. What is the status of Bipin Joshi?
As of now, we still do not have any clear information regarding the status of Bipin Joshi. The Israeli government does not know, nor does the local army. Of the remaining three hostages, Hamas recently returned the body of a Thai citizen who had reportedly died back in December 2023. A Nigerian hostage has also been confirmed dead, and there are reports that his body is being prepared for return. But when it comes to Joshi’s status, I truly cannot say anything beyond this at this point.
