War survivors share live stories; Israel for ‘No’ to ceasefire
Today–Israel’s war against Hamas has entered its twenty-seven days.
In almost a month, Hamas killed at least 1,300 Israelis and wounded more than 3,300 in a merciless assault. In the Gaza Strip, according to the UN humanitarian coordination affairs office OCHA, nearly 9,000 lost their lives and 22,240 have been injured. There are many thousands of people who are seeking for life.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are holding hostage more than 238 soldiers and civilians, including foreign nationals.
In this reference, a memorial event and lighting candles for the victims of Hamas Terrorist attack on October 7 in Israel was organized at the residence of Israeli Ambassador in Kathmandu.
At the event the Israeli Professor shed light on historical aspects of the Israel saying creation of the Jewish state, had faced war in the various years, Oslo Declaration, the Middle East conflict and the mindset of Hamas, ISIS and other terror organizations.
Media people also watched horror video footage taken on the day of the attack on different locations in Israel.
Among the six survivors of Hamas Attack on Kibbutz Alumim three injured are getting treatment in the hospital in Israel whereas Bipin Joshi is still missing.
The three Nepali survivors namely- Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary, Pramod KC Birendra and Chaudhary shared with the media people an amazing story they struggled for life and death with the media people today.
“October 7, 2023 was a typical morning as the terrorist group of Palestine-Hamas shelling continued in Israel. We didn’t have time to go to the basement bunker so 10 members of our friends paid with their lives. But among seven, Bipin Joshi is still unknown (likely to be captured by the Hamas among hundreds of Israeli and foreign nationals. We six managed to hide in the basement of an apartment building. We became accustomed to something flying over us. There was nothing we could do. It felt like the end of the world. The strength, we believe, is the strength from God, the three survivors shared their horror experiences.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador of Israel to Nepal Hanan Goder-Goldberger stressed on the need to spread “message of unity and harmony to live and respect.”
He also stressed that the call by the United Nations for “ceasefire” is an untimed ringing of bells.
“Until and unless the Hamas surrendered and laid down their arms Israel is now not even thinking of ceasefire,” said the Israeli envoy Goder.
“So far Israel has paid the cost of many lives and still being kidnapped many Israelis including foreign nationals Israel wants to reclaim that unbearable and unforgettable price of the human beings we paid,” he stressed.
“We will never surrender but will be determined to flourish our country at any cost, though small country Israel has been fighting single-handedly against nearly six dozens nations,” he emphasized.
Israel is supporting Nepal as one of the “High Priority” friends among few in the world but Nepal’s action towards Israel in the international forum has seen far beyond. Israel has definitely felt unhappy from the recent voting patterns endorsed by Nepal in the United Nations on the “Resolution on War in Israel-Gaza.”
Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Israel in Kathmandu Ms. Dana Fisher says the time has demanded to explore the real stories of the war victims’ survivors.
Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sharad Raj Aaran and former Dean at the Agriculture Department at the Far western university also spoke on the occasion.
If we trace the history, the U.N. General Assembly voted in 1947 to divide Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab.
The partition plan was rejected by the Arab community but Jewish community embraced the establishment of Israel. Thus, Israel declared independence in May 1948. Since then, the Israel-Palestinians conflicts have been uprooting till date.
The then President of the United States Bill Clinton brought Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin together to negotiate the agreement that came to be known as the “Oslo Accords” signed in by the then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to create peace in the Middle East are a pair of agreements after months of secret negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
The Oslo I Accord was signed in Washington, D.C., in 1993; and the Oslo II Accord was signed in Taba, Egypt, in 1995.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is long running and complex but primarily rooted in a dispute over land with immense historical and religious significance to Jews and Muslims. Though Israel has signed peace agreements with the Palestine Liberation Organization several times, the peace in Gaza has never been realized yet.
US President Joe Biden during his visit to Israel recently has said it has to be a two-state solution that means a concentrated effort for all the parties Israelis, Palestinians, regional partners, global leaders to put all on a path toward peace.”
Even more international voices call for a humanitarian truce. The war comes amid an escalation of violence between West Bank Palestinians and Israeli settlers, Israel and Hamas continue to exchange fire.
Thus, the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel has entered “a new phase in the war” against Hamas in Gaza.
