Narendra Modi thanked Netanyahu for Israeli rescue efforts in Nepal. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Thursday for India’s efforts to aid those affected by the recent deadly earthquake in Nepal.

According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader specifically thanked Modi for providing helicopters to help rescue Israelis, and for allowing Israeli relief planes to safely land in India. Netanyahu also sent his condolences to the Indian victims of the earthquake and their families.

Netanyahu also said heightened efforts were under way to find Israeli hiker Or Asraf, who has been out of contact since the earthquake, and thanked Modi for aiding in the search.

The two prime ministers also spoke about expanding and strengthening ties between India and Israel, continuing initiatives launched in their September, 2014 meeting in New York.

Modi later thanked Netanyahu for his call. “My gratitude to PM Netanyahu for his kind words on India’s relief and rescue efforts in Nepal including help extended to Israeli nationals,” he wrote on Twitter.

The death toll from Saturday’s earthquake in Nepal has reached near 6,000 with over 11,000 people injured, according to Nepal’s ministry for home affairs. Three days after the natural disaster a 260-member IDF delegation, including 127 medical personnel, arrived in Nepal and set up a field hospital to help those injured in the earthquake. Israel also promised to fully rebuild an entire village in Nepal as part of its long-term relief efforts in the country.