Kathmandu, 19 Aug: Israeli President Isaac Herzog has met with Padma and Pushpa, the mother and sister of Bipin Joshi, who are being held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. President Herzog has assured Padma and Pushpa that Israel, with the support of the United Nations, the US government, and the international community, will leave no stone unturned to secure Bipin’s safe release.
The Israeli government last week brought Bipin’s mother and sister to Israel in a bid to increase international pressure for his release at the United Nations . Like Bipin, relatives of people from various countries held hostage by Hamas have also been brought to Israel.
Herzog, who had arrived to meet the victims’ relatives at a massive demonstration in Tel Aviv’s ‘Hostage Square’ demanding the release of those held by Hamas, immediately called them to the President’s residence and met with Bipin’s mother and sister, along with his wife Michelle. Nepali Ambassador Dhan Prasad Pandit was also present.
After the meeting, Israeli President Herzog, who came to stand among the media with Bipin’s mother and sister, asked for a large photo of Bipin that Padma was carrying and placed it on his chest and said, “This is Bipin Joshi. And this is his mother and this is his sister. 22-year-old Bipin was kidnapped on October 7 (2023). Bipin, who came from Nepal to study agriculture, wants to return to Nepal to contribute to his country and develop his family’s life.”
Stating that he and the Israeli government are making every effort to bring Bipin back, he added, “We are raising our voices to bring him back. The Israeli government and everyone else who is concerned about the hostages are doing everything they can to get him back home. We are also appealing to the international community to listen to Bipin’s voice, he is an innocent hostage and should return home as soon as possible.”
Padma and Pushpa had also met with the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament, Amir Ohana, before the President and urged him to take the initiative for Bipin’s release. On October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian militant Hamas attacked a kibbutz in southern Israel, 1,200 people were killed and 251 people, including Bipin, were taken hostage. Hamas has not yet returned 50 people, including Bipin. Ten Nepali students died in the kibbutz itself in the Hamas attack.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Embassy in Tel Aviv issued a statement saying that Bipin’s mother and sister met with the President of Israel and the Speaker of the Parliament. The embassy said that they are also planning to meet with other Israeli officials and urge them to take the initiative for his release.
