ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, several nations are working to evacuate their citizens from the region as the death toll continues to rise.
The United States, the United Kingdom, India, and France are coordinating efforts to ensure the safe return of their nationals from Israel. India, in particular, is sending a charter flight to retrieve approximately 230 Indian citizens, with plans to return them home on the following day.
Punch reports that Nepal’s foreign ministry has already evacuated 253 Nepali students who were in Israel.
Tragically, ten Nepali agriculture students lost their lives during a Hamas attack on a kibbutz in southern Israel. Three students were injured, while one remains missing.
Colombia has also taken steps to evacuate its nationals from Tel Aviv.
The conflict’s impact on Gaza is devastating, with at least 12 United Nations Relief and Works Agency workers losing their lives, and hundreds of thousands of residents displaced. The death toll in Gaza stands at 1,417, while Israel has reported 1,300 casualties.
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The Israeli military has conducted extensive airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, with around 6,000 bombs containing 4,000 tonnes of explosives unleashed since the start of the conflict.
Israel has imposed a strict blockade on Gaza, demanding the release of hostages captured by Hamas before granting any humanitarian exceptions.
The United States is arranging charter flights to facilitate the evacuation of its citizens from Israel, with 27 Americans confirmed dead and 14 reported missing.
The United Kingdom is also organizing flights for British nationals, prioritizing those most vulnerable, and sending a Rapid Deployment Team to assist its citizens in Israel.
France is actively working to secure the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas, with 13 French citizens confirmed dead and approximately 17 more missing.
President Macron emphasized France’s commitment to the safe return of its citizens and is actively engaged in international efforts to achieve this goal.