Kathmandu: A group of prominent Nepali citizens in the capital have lodged their serious objection to the killings and violence in Gaza. “We are horrified by the indiscriminate violence that has been escalating since the offensive on October 7th by Hamas fighters, which included the tragic loss of lives of at least ten Nepali citizens working in farms in Kibbutz Alumim in the Israel,” they said by issuing a statement. “We strongly condemn the disproportionate and brutal Israeli military offensive on Gaza, including the recent bombing of the al-Ahli Arab Hospital where more than 500 Palestinian civilians including children, elderly, women, doctors, patients and refugees were slaughtered and the ground offensives that are beginning.”
“Israel has indiscriminately targeted Palestinian civilians and hospitals, schools, residential neighborhoods, mosques, churches, refugee camps, critical telecommunications and other infrastructure,” they have said. “Two thirds of all killed so far are women and children. Israel has deliberately created a humanitarian crisis by cutting off food, water, electricity, fuel, medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Gaza and ordered a mass evacuation of over one million people, while simultaneously denying exit and safe passage for civilians.”
“These are war crimes. Israel is using Hamas and the “right to defend” argument to systematically perpetuate barbaric collective punishment of an already besieged population of 2.3 million people in Gaza, and using the media to create obfuscating and polarizing public debate.”
They have demanded that the Nepal government as well as the elected politicians explicitly call for an immediate ceasefire. “More than 5000 Nepali citizens are still in Israel. Every single civilian life must be equally protected. This brutal war must end immediately.” “The Government of Nepal must call for an end to the prolonged suffering of the Palestinian people. We must recognize that the historic occupation and encroachment of Palestinian lands over the past seven decades and the consistent denial of fundamental rights of Palestinians has been the root cause of long-standing resistance and violence.”
“Even as Israel continues to attack Palestinian civilians relentlessly and enforce an apartheid state where Palestinians are subjugated in their own historical lands, Western governments and media continue their unquestioning support of Israel,” they have said. “We insist that the Government of Nepal maintain an independent stance and call on Israel for an immediate cease fire, and an end to these excesses in the occupied territories of Palestine.”
Amish Raj Mulmi (writer), Archana Thapa (writer/ activist), Bikas Rauniar (photojournalist),
Hari Sharma (political scientist), Kanak Mani Dixit (journalist), Khagendra Sangraula (writer),
Sanjeev Uprety (former professor of TU and writer) and Sushil Pyakurel (human rights activist) are among the signatories of the statement. They have also appealed others to sign and join the petition.
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