KATHMANDU, Nov 22: Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas on Wednesday announced a four-day truce in Gaza giving some respite to the besieged Gaza residents as well as hopes of release of prisoners taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attack in southern Israel.

Both sides have reportedly agreed to release some prisoners of war. Along with this, the possibility of the release of Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who is being held hostage by Hamas, has also increased.

It is reported that the ceasefire agreement was mediated by the Qatar government. As the political branch office of Hamas is located in Qatar, it is easy to reach a ceasefire agreement through Qatar's initiative. On Sunday, Prime Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Rahman Al Thani had said that an agreement on the release of the hostages and a short-term ceasefire could be reached soon. He said that they could not agree on other issues.

According to the latest update, Israel has agreed not launch any ground attacks and airstrikes in the northern Gaza area during the four-day ceasefire. In return, Hamas reportedly agreed to release foreign hostages and some Israeli citizens. Israel will release some 300 Palestinians it holds hostage.

While Hamas and Israel have agreed to release prisoners of war through a short-term ceasefire, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal is effortful to secure the release of Nepali student Joshi. “We have received news that Bipin is safe in the Gaza Strip. Various efforts are being made by the minister and the government of Nepal to release him," said Deepak Joshi, the personal secretary of Foreign Minister NP Saud.

"When both sides have agreed on a ceasefire, there is hope that Bipin will be released and returned to Nepal."  

Since the beginning, the Nepal government has been asking Qatar, Iran, the International Red Cross (ICRC) and others, who are mediating with the Hamas group, for the release of Bipin Joshi. Personal Secretary Joshi said that according to the information provided by the Qatar government through diplomatic channels, they have received news that Bipin is safe with the Hamas group. Bipin's brother Kishor Joshi said that Foreign Minister Saud also confirmed this in a conversation with them on Saturday.

“We asked them to act responsibly for the release. The minister said that he has received the news that Bipin is safe,” said Kishor.

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) released a CCTV footage on Monday and claimed that Bipin was still under the control of Hamas. In the footage taken at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which was captured by the Israeli army recently, it is seen that two people have been abducted. The IDF mentioned that one of them is a Nepali national and one is a Thai citizen. However, the IDF has not revealed where they are at the moment.  

Based on information from the IDF and Israel, the Nepali embassy in Israel released a statement on Monday saying that Bipin is still out of contact.

On October 7, Hamas attacked Israel, killing 10 students from Nepal and injuring four in the attack. Bipin is missing after the incident. Eyewitness Nepali students have also been saying that Bipin was captured by Hamas fighters. It is said that the Hamas group has taken 240 hostages. Among them are children, the elderly and foreign nationals. Mediators have been working since the beginning to secure their release.

 
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