Bipin Joshi will return home soon: Israel

Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass expressed his hope that Bipin Joshi, who has been held captive by Hamas, Palestinian militant group, since October 7, will return home soon.

The Israeli government has received information that Joshi of Kanchanpur, a Nepali student who went missing after Hamas launched an armed attack on Israel, is in Gaza Strip, he said.

Joshi, who went to Israel under the 'Learn and Earn' program to study agriculture, was taken hostage from Alumim Kibbutz on October 7, 2023. He has gone out of contact since then.

“It is true that he is alive. We have received information that he has been kept somewhere in the Gaza Strip,” newly appointed Ambassador Bass said during a meeting with diplomatic journalists in Kathmandu on Thursday.

“We have received information from the sources in Arab countries that Joshi is alive,” he said.

Hamas took around 250 people from different countries hostage, including Joshi, by attacking the southern part of Israel, which is connected to the Gaza Strip, On October 7 of last year.

Ten other Nepali students who were hiding in Alumim Kibbutz along with Joshi, however, were killed in the attack.

Narayan Prasad Neupane and Ashish Chaudhary of Kailali, Pravesh Bhandari of Salyan, Ganesh Kumar Nepali of Bajhang, Rajesh Swarnakar of Sunsari, Padam Thapa and Rajan Phulara of Doti, Lokendra Dhami and Dipeshraj Bista of Darchula, and Anand Sah of Dhanusha died in the incident.

Out of 250 people taken hostage, Hamas has already freed 117 people.

"Initiatives are being taken to release the people held captive by Hamas," Ambassador Bass said.