During the attack on the southern part of Israel connected to Gaza Strip on October 20 last year, Hamas took Joshi and about 250 people from different countries as hostages.
The Israeli government has received information that Bipin Joshi from Kanchanpur, who was taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas during the attack on Israel 14 months ago, is in Gazapatti. Delivering this information, Nepali Ambassador to Israel Shamulik A. Bash has expressed hope that Joshi will return to Nepal soon.
Joshi, who came to Israel to study agriculture as part of the 'Learn and Earn' program, was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, 2023 from the Alumim Kibbutz. His condition was unknown since then.
'He's still alive. This is true. We have received information that he has been kept somewhere in Gaza Strip,' said the newly appointed Ambassador Bash in a meeting with diplomatic journalists in Kathmandu on Thursday. He says that the information that Joshi is alive has been received from sources in Arab countries.
On October 7 (Ozoz 20) of last year, Hamas took about 250 people hostage from different countries, including Joshi, by attacking the southern part of Israel connected to Gaza Strip. 10 other Nepali students who were hiding in Alumim Kibbutz along with Joshi 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.
Hamas has released 117 of the hostages. Most of them were released during the two cease-fires for humanitarian aid. Most of those freed are elderly and children. Hamas has said that 33 hostages have died in the Israeli attack. "Initiatives are underway for the release of citizens held by Hamas," Ambassador Bass said.
According to the Israeli media "The Times of Israel", an agreement is being made between Israel and Hamas before the newly elected US President Donald Trump is sworn in. Trump is sworn in on January 20.
Steve Wittkoff, who is about to get the role of ambassador to the Middle East in the Trump administration, has already met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume the stalled mediation for a ceasefire and release of hostages.
Qatar pulled out of the mediation last month saying that both Israel and Hamas were not serious about it. After the meeting with Steve, the Qatari Prime Minister has indicated that the mediation will continue again.
After the cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah on November 26 at the initiative of the US, the possibility of the Israel-Hamas war also being stopped has increased, according to the international media. More than 44,000 Palestinians have died in the past 14 months of Israeli attacks.
