KATHMANDU, Jan 14: Foreign Minister (FM) Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has intensified diplomatic initiatives for the release of Nepali student Bipin Joshi as Israel and Hamas are negotiating a ceasefire deal. The Palestinian militant group Hamas took Joshi as a hostage during an attack on October 7, 2023. In response, Foreign Minister Deuba has intensified efforts to facilitate his release with countries including Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and other diplomatic missions.
On Tuesday morning, FM Rana had a phone conversation with Qatar’s Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, who is the main mediator of the peace talks with Hamas on behalf of the Qatari government.
In a phone conversation with Khulaifi, FM Deuba expressed her gratitude that Hamas is going to release some of the prisoners under its control. At the same time, she requested Minister Khulaifi to take special initiatives for the release of Nepali student Bipin. Mentioning that Qatar has always been a steadfast friend of Nepal, she urged to take a serious stance on Bipin’s issue.
PM Oli holds telephone conversation with his Qatari counterpart
State Minister Khulaifi has said that the issue of ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is progressing positively. Khulaifi informed Minister Rana that along with the ceasefire, the issue of the release of hostages was also raised, and assured that the release of Bipin is a priority for Qatar.
“Hamas would release some hostages in the first phase, as far as possible, Bipin will also be released. If that does not happen, Bipin would be released during the subsequent phases,” the Secretariat of Foreign Minister Deuba quoted Khulaifi as saying.
Earlier, Minister Rana also requested the Egyptian government to assist in the release of Bipin. Egypt is also taking initiatives for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Last week, Foreign Minister Rana had requested through the ambassadors of Egypt and Qatar to Nepal, urging both countries to take action for Bipin’s release. Similarly, she had also requested Shmulik Arie Bass, Israel’s ambassador to Nepal, to prioritize Bipin's release with the Israeli government.
