It must be accepted that the efforts of the Nepali side could not be effective in the two-year period after Bipin became a hostage and his death was confirmed. This shows that there is a need for hard work to make our diplomatic practice effective.
What you should know
Bipin Joshi, who has been missing for two years after being taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, has given up hope of his return alive. On Monday evening, Hamas confirmed that he had died, the last thread of hope. Israel had already given a strong indication of death to the family and the Nepali Ambassador to Israel on Monday afternoon, saying that there was no evidence that Bipin was alive. However, the death was not officially confirmed.
So it was said that a miracle would happen. But Hamas issued a statement and announced that it will hand over his body. In this way, while Israel and Palestine are enjoying the hostage exchange, Nepal, a country about five thousand kilometers away, is shocked.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from Gaza. About 1,200 people including 10 Nepali students died at that time. 251 people including Bipin were captured by Hamas. Israel's destructive retaliation created an extraordinary human catastrophe. From time to time there was a war and prisoners were exchanged.
At last count, 48 hostages had yet to be released by Hamas, and 20 of them were believed to be alive. As the two sides moved towards a peace process, although Hamas provided the names of 20 living and 26 dead to Israel, Bipin's name did not appear on either side. In such a situation there was hope along with panic. Since Monday evening, Bipin has been forced to accept that he has died.
Al-Qassam Brigade, the military wing of Hamas, has announced that it will return the bodies of four hostages, including Nepali student Bipin Joshi, to Israel. Hamas issued a statement claiming that they were killed during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. However, its details are yet to come. Hamas does not deserve sympathy either.
Because, he initiated the attack and was using an unrelated person as a bargaining chip by holding him hostage in an unsecured area. On the other hand, Israel has destroyed the Palestinian land in response to the attack by Hamas. Schools and hospitals have been destroyed. Starving women and children who were searching for food have also been targeted. In such a situation, it cannot be said that Vipin died because of his attack. However, both sides should clarify this with credible basis.
The death of Nepali students has confirmed that even people who are not involved in any violence are affected. Due to the death of 10 Nepalis and the abduction of Bipin Joshi, Nepal has become a concern of the Israel-Hamas war among Nepalis. On the other hand, reports show that about 66,000 people have been killed in Palestine in the humanitarian disaster created by Israel, one-third of them children. Therefore, although the present ceasefire is welcome, it must be tested politically, legally and socially in human history.
It is not yet clear when Bipin's family will receive the bodies as Hamas will hand them over to the Red Cross. Now the family should get the body easily. For that, the government of Israel and the government of Nepal should coordinate. The grieving family should not be dragged into unnecessary and cumbersome administrative procedures.
The Nepal government has been claiming to have taken diplomatic initiatives for the release of Bipin. However, Bipin's death has confirmed the failure of our diplomatic efforts. It has to be accepted that the efforts of the Nepali side could not be effective in the two-year period after Bipin became a hostage and his death was confirmed. This shows that there is a need for hard work to make our diplomatic practice effective.
