
Kathmandu, January 20
Hamas has released a list of 33 hostages to be freed in the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Israel on January 19. The name of Nepali citizen Bipin Joshi is not among those to be released.
As per the agreement, Hamas announced on Sunday its commitment to release three female hostages, marking the start of the ceasefire implementation. The list of 33 hostages to be freed immediately by Hamas was earlier submitted by Israel, with Hamas agreeing to their release.
The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestine was reached on January 15, 2025, following mediation efforts by Qatar, the United States, and Egypt.
Although the ceasefire was set to begin at 6 am Sunday, delays in Hamas providing the names of the hostages led to an Israeli strike on Gaza. Shortly afterward, Hamas announced its decision to release three hostages, and Israel declared the ceasefire operational.
Under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is expected to release the 33 hostages over the next six weeks. However, Nepali student Bipin Joshi, abducted by Hamas from southern Israel on October 7, 2023, remains excluded from the list. His whereabouts remain unknown.
According to the BBC, the 33 hostages to be released range in age from 9-month-old Kafir Bivash to 86-year-old Shlomo Manzar. Notably, Kafir celebrated his second birthday in captivity.