KATHMANDU, Nov 29: The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has brought some calm to the area. But, in Kanchanpur, Nepal, far from Israel, Bipin's relatives are going through a war in their minds. “Day and night, I am worried about my son,” said Bipin's father, Mahanand Joshi, “Times of uncertainty are even more terrifying." The family, which spent every moment crying from the news of their son taken hostage in the attack by Hamas, said that the last five days have been more difficult.
“We wait with hope for his release,” he said, “Everyone is in tears, longing for his return.”
The news of Bipin being held hostage has deeply affected his mother, Padma, and his sister, Pushpa, who is in Grade 11 "I almost cry myself trying to remind them," he said, adding that the fear of the five-day truce being broken has made it even more terrifying. He said that Bipin's sister Pushpa had also brought a globe amaranth garland for Bhaitika. “I pray he comes home soon, before the garland withers away.”
Mahanand said that Padma, once a primary school teacher, used to seek solace at work but returned home disheartened. “She'd cry while teaching,” he recalled. “She never finds peace.” The recent release of hostages during the Hamas-Israel ceasefire has raised hopes for Bipin's safe return.
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Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, the government has also been working day and night to search for the missing Bipin.
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sewa Lamsal, said that after the Israeli army informed about Bipin, talks are being held with various parties for his release. She said that after Israel claimed that Bipin, who has been out of contact since the war, may be under the control of Hamas, his hope to return to Nepal has increased. Talking to Republica, she said that along with the Israeli army, they are also talking with Qatar, which is playing the role of a mediator for his release.
Hamas said that in the first phase, children and the elderly would be released, so there is a possibility that Bipin could be released in the next phase. She also said that the ceasefire will be implemented for four days in the first phase and there is a possibility that Bipin may return to Nepal after the ceasefire in the next phase.
The ceasefire has been extended. However, no information has been given so far as to when the next phase of ceasefire will come into effect. Due to this confusion, Bipin's family is disheartened. "We are tormented by the fear that there will be another war," Mahanand said. He said that his son had gone to Israel to earn a living and that he had no enmity with any party. "We should not delay the release of an innocent person," he said, "We need our son back as soon as possible."
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lamsal said there were serious discussions with Qatar's Assistant Foreign Minister Soltan bin Saad al-Muraikhi, who is acting as a mediator for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
Bipin, aged 23, from Bhimdatta Municipality-3 in Kanchanpur, went to Israel last August as part of the 'Earn and Learn' program during his studies at the Faculty of Agriculture and Science of Sudurpaschim University. Of the 49 students who accompanied him, 10 were killed in the Hamas attack.
On November 19, the Israeli soldiers released a video on social media platform X (Twitter). In the scene where the two hostages were being taken to the treatment room by Hamas fighters, the IDF said that one of the two hostages was a Nepali.
If the IDF claims are true, one of them is Bipin. "That news gave more hope to the family," said Mahanand, Bipin's father, Wwe are more worried as the cease-fire is coming to an end."
