KATHMANDU: Nepal decided not to vote in favor of the resolution that the UN General Assembly passed, which demanded that Israel leave the Palestinian lands.

The proposal received support from 124 nations, including China, France, Russia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, two of the largest nations in South Asia. Among the fourteen permanent members of the UN, the United States was the only one to vote against the resolution.

Nepal remained neutral on the matter and did not cast a vote, as did India, the UK, and forty-three other countries. 

Nepal supports a diplomatic settlement of the ongoing dispute between Israel and Palestine. Nepal maintains diplomatic links with both countries.

During the reign of Prime Minister BP Koirala in 1960, Nepal established diplomatic relations with Israel, so becoming the first Asian country to recognize the Jewish state.

Many Nepali students have worked in Israel and studied agriculture there. However, during the Hamas assault on Israel on October 7, 1,200 people were slain, ten of them were Nepalis; Bipin Joshi, one of the Nepalis, is still unaccounted for.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to leave Palestinian territory, deeming its presence there illegal. Additionally, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has received a request for an arrest order for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Hamas leaders.

As evidenced by its neutral position, Nepal has adopted a fair-minded approach to the Israel-Palestine conflict, recognizing both governments and supporting diplomatic efforts.