KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – The family of Bipin Joshi, a 25-year-old Nepali agriculture student taken hostage by the militant group Hamas, has made a heartfelt appeal for his release, underscoring his innocence and lack of involvement in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Joshi, who was one of 17 Nepali students studying in Israel, was abducted during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which marked the beginning of the conflict.
Bipin Joshi had achieved his dream of studying abroad after successfully competing in a government examination. His sister, Pushpa Joshi, shared that he arrived in southern Israel only three weeks prior to the attack and that this was his first experience outside of Nepal. Acknowledging his innocence, she stated, "Bipin Joshi is an innocent agriculture student. He is a student who has a long life ahead of him, who is just 25 years now." Tragically, during the attack, ten Nepali students lost their lives, and six others were injured. Pushpa recounted that Bipin displayed bravery by throwing a live grenade out of the shelter to save multiple lives before he was captured.
Since his abduction, his family has had no contact with him, apart from confirming through security footage that he was alive when taken to Gaza. Pushpa, who was only 15 when her brother was kidnapped, now travels for eight hours round trip to Kathmandu to advocate for his release. She has met with Nepalese Prime Minister and President numerous times in her effort to bring attention to her brother's plight. Nepal's government has sought assistance from Qatari and Egyptian officials to negotiate Joshi's freedom.
Despite the uncertain situation, Pushpa remains hopeful, expressing, "He is alive, and we believe from the bottom of our hearts that he for sure is going to come back all safe and sound. We have big hopes that he will be back." The attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, as Hamas militants also took 251 hostages. Currently, around 53 hostages are believed to still be held, with many having been released during ceasefire agreements. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have successfully rescued eight hostages and retrieved numerous bodies in recent actions.
While the conflict continues to rage, the family of Bipin Joshi remains glued to news updates regarding the situation in Gaza. They harbor hope with each report of potential hostage releases. Pushpa remarked, "News is always on, all day from morning to night, at our house." The family maintains contact with the relatives of other Nepali nationals affected by the attack, although Bipin is the only confirmed Nepali hostage.
Pushpa describes her brother as her best friend, recalling how they would often learn together and share joyous moments through music and dance. "In rainy season like now, we used to get wet in the rain and dance," she fondly remembered. Bipin's hard work had earned him a scholarship for the agriculture program located near the Gaza border within a vital agricultural area, highlighting the significance of agriculture in Nepal, as it provides income for over 60% of the population. This context illustrates the importance of programs that allow Nepalese individuals to learn advanced agricultural techniques in Israel.
