Recent posts on social media have been spreading false claims that 17 Indian citizens were kidnapped by the Islamic militant group Hamas during a large-scale assault on Israeli forces in the Kibbutz Alumim area near the Gaza Strip. These posts incorrectly state that 10 of the 17 Indians were killed or executed. It has been alleged that no official Indian authorities have commented on the situation, and there have been mentions of support for students of Aligarh Muslim University who expressed solidarity with Hamas.
However, it is important to clarify that the information shared in these posts is untrue. The list of 17 names mentioned in the viral photo corresponds to Nepali nationals, not Indian citizens, as incorrectly claimed on social media. A fact-checking investigation revealed that these individuals were indeed Nepali students who were either killed or injured during the Hamas attack. Israel had confirmed the identities of these Nepali students who lost their lives during the attack, with at least 10 fatalities and four injuries reported. One Nepali student, Bipin Joshi, from Kanchanpur, remains missing.
Additionally, an official press release from Nepal's embassy in Israel, dated October 15, 2023, confirmed the names of the deceased Nepali students, which matched the names in the viral photo. Moreover, the addresses of the individuals mentioned in the photo are all located in Nepal. As of October 12, 2023, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that there was no information regarding Indian casualties during the Hamas attack in Israel. According to PTI, official sources reported on October 15, 2023, that at least two Israeli women security officers of Indian origin were killed in the attack. However, there were no credible news reports confirming any list of Indian citizens kidnapped by Hamas during this incident.
In light of these findings, it is crucial to exercise caution when encountering information on social media and to verify claims from reliable sources. False or misleading information can cause panic and create unnecessary confusion.
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