Kathmandu, October 13
Hamas has confirmed the death of Nepali national Bipin Joshi. The bodies of Joshi and three other hostages will be handed over to Israel later today.
According to the BBC, Hamas’s military wing has released the names of the four hostages whose bodies are being returned namely, Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Peretz.
Hamas also released 20 living hostages earlier today. It has been reported that the total number of deceased hostages could reach up to 28.
Hamas had last carried out an attack on October 7, 2023, in the Kibbutz region of Israel. During that attack, which took place on the second day after it began, 16 Nepali students studying in Israel were affected.
Under the ‘Learn and Earn’ program of the Israeli government, these students were residing in Kibbutz Alumim, located near the Gaza Strip in southern Israel.
A day after the attack, the Nepali Embassy in Israel confirmed that 10 Nepali students had been killed. Among those present was Bipin Joshi, who was taken hostage by Hamas.
About a month later, on November 17, 2023, Bipin was reportedly seen at Al Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip. In a 33-second video, he was seen for the last time. On Monday morning, Israeli officials confirmed that Joshi is no longer alive.
During this time, the Government of Nepal had made extensive efforts to secure Joshi’s safe release from the custody of Hamas, a Palestinian militant group. However, the attempt to bring him safely back to Nepal was unsuccessful.
To rescue the bodies of the deceased and the injured Nepalis affected by the attack, as well as to repatriate Nepali citizens wishing to return home, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, N.P. Saud, visited Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 12, 2023.
Likewise, then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ requested Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, to assist in Joshi’s release during their meeting on November 25, 2023, while the Qatari minister was visiting Nepal.
Joshi’s father Mahananda Joshi and mother Padma Joshi had also appealed for his swift rescue. The then Prime Minister Prachanda stated that maximum diplomatic efforts were being made for Joshi’s safe release.
On the 43rd day of Bipin’s captivity, his parents met then Foreign Minister N.P. Saud in Mahendranagar, Kanchanpur, during his visit to their home district, urging him to take necessary steps for their son’s release.
President Ram Chandra Paudel had also intervened for Joshi’s release. During his meeting with the emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, he requested assistance in freeing Joshi. The emir was in Nepal on a two-day state visit at the invitation of President Paudel.
Joshi’s mother had also appealed to the President of Israel to help secure her son’s immediate release.
Similarly, Joshi’s sister Pushpa appealed to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, explaining that her brother was an innocent student who had come to Israel for study, and urged for his release from Hamas captivity.
Nepal’s ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit also requested the Israeli President to continue all possible efforts to ascertain Joshi’s situation. In response, President Herzog assured that efforts were ongoing to secure Bipin’s release.
