Israeli President Isaac Herzog has met Bipin Joshi's mother Padma and sister Pushpa, who are under the control of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. President Herzog has promised Padma and Pushpa that Israel will leave no stone unturned for the safe release of Vipin, along with the United Nations, the American government and the international community.

Last week, the Israeli government sent his mother and sister to Israel in order to increase international pressure for the release of Bipin from Kanchanpur. Like Bipin, relatives of people from other countries who were taken hostage by Hamas have also been handed over to Israel.  Herzog, who had reached a mass meeting at the huge demonstration held by the relatives of the victims who were under the control of Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, called the presidential residence and met Bipin's mother and sister along with his wife Michelle. Nepali Ambassador Dhan Prasad Pandit also participated in that event. After the meeting, Israeli President Herzog, who came to stand among the media with Bipin's mother and sister, asked for the big photo of Bipin that Padma was carrying and placed it on his chest, saying, "This is Bipin Joshi." And she is his mother and she is his sister. 22-year-old Bipin was abducted on 7 October (2023). Bipin, who came from Nepal to study agriculture, wants to return to Nepal to contribute to his country and develop his family's life.' The Government of Israel and all others, who are concerned about the hostages, are doing everything possible to return them home. We are also appealing to the international community to listen to Bipin's voice, he is an innocent hostage and should return home as soon as possible.'  After the

, the President asked Pushpa to speak but she refused. Pushpa said, folding her hands, "I want to thank all the Israelis from the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much for standing with us and giving us hope. It means a lot to me, my family and especially my brother. I have a request to the world community for the release of my brother, please do whatever you can.' Even for so long, we have not been able to know the condition of my son Bipin Joshi, nor have we been able to hear his voice.' 

When Padma could not speak more, the President asked Ambassador Pandit to keep his words in Nepali language. "Since we don't know anything about Bipin's condition, we are worried from inside. We hope that one day he will be released safely," Pandit said in the video of the meeting provided by the Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu.

Israel in a new mode of war, opposition even inside

Padma and Pushpa also met with the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament, Amir Ohana, before the President, and asked for the initiative of Bipin's release. When Palestinian militants Hamas attacked a kibbutz in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, 1,200 people were killed and 251 people, including Bipin, were taken hostage. Hamas has not yet returned the 50 people, including Bipin. 10 Nepalese students were killed in the kibbutz in the attack by Hamas. The injured Bipin, who saved many lives by throwing a grenade from a Hamas fighter towards them, was taken hostage. A month later, in November, Hamas released a video of Bipin being treated at a hospital in Gaza. Vipin went to Israel to study agriculture under the 'Learn and Earn' programme.

After Hamas did not return the hostages, including Bipin, even after two years, the Israeli government is taking military action with the announcement that it will take full control of the Gaza Strip to increase the pressure. Israel started attacking Gaza with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's 5-point declaration, including the return of 50 people held by Hamas, and making Gaza free from Hamas forever.

Along with the military operation to release the hostages, the relatives of the hostages from different countries have been brought to Israel to increase the pressure on the international level. With their participation, millions of supporters demonstrated in Israel's "Hostage Square" and demanded "the release of the hostages and an end to the war". The march passed by displaying the national flag of Israel made in a huge size with pictures of 50 hostages of Hamas.  Bipin's sister Pushpa was one of those who addressed the crowd of thousands gathered at 'Hostage Square'. Pushpa, who has been busy since taking Israel to the studios of various media and TV channels, giving interviews and meeting with Israeli officials, addressed a public meeting in Israel for the first time. 

Pushpa, who could not control herself in the midst of thousands of supporters, cried and said, 'How can a person live in a dark hell-like cell for more than 680 days? Can't even imagine! For two years, my family has been missing my only son and I have been missing my soul, my only brother.'

She became very emotional and said in Nepali language, 'The funny guys.., Dada.. I miss you so much. I miss your warm hugs, your voice, everyone, I miss you so much.'

In support of the families of the hostages, more than 1 million people participated in huge demonstrations and marches in different places in Israel, according to the media. Supporters who stand with the hostages' families are demanding, "There should be a detailed agreement to return all the hostages home, the war should end." Bipin has saved many lives by hitting the terrorist's grenade. He is a hero, a hero for Nepalis and Israelis. We will do our best for his release,' he said, 'I will come to Kathmandu myself to take Bipin back from the terrorists, I believe we will be successful in that.' According to the embassy, there is a program to meet with other Israeli officials and ask them to take initiative for the release.

Similarly, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also met Vipin's mother Padma and sister Pushpa on Monday evening. According to the Israeli ambassador in Kathmandu, Shamulik Ari Bash, Padma and Pushpa have requested the foreign minister Saar to take steps for their safe release, lamenting that they have not been able to get information about the situation of Vipin. Foreign Minister Saar told them that the Israeli government is constantly taking initiatives and will do more. "Israel is deeply committed to returning all hostages, whether they are Israeli citizens or foreigners, like Bipin Joshi," he said.

While Bipin's family is meeting with the Israeli President, Speaker of Parliament, Foreign Minister and other high officials, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, writing a status on social media on Tuesday, claimed that, at the initiative of the Nepali Embassy, efforts are being made to meet and increase pressure at the international level for the release of Bipin. "It is our responsibility to initiate the early release of Bipin Joshi, who is a hostage," wrote Prime Minister Oli, "mother Padma and sister Pushpa have already met with the Israeli president and the speaker of the parliament.