KATHMANDU: The mother and sister of Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who was abducted by Hamas, met Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Sunday to request support for his release.
According to the Nepali Embassy in Tel Aviv, Bipin’s mother Padma Joshi and sister Pushpa Joshi, accompanied by Ambassador Dhan Prasad Pandit, held a courtesy meeting with the President at his official residence in Jerusalem. They appealed for humanitarian intervention, stressing that Bipin was an innocent student.
President Herzog said the abduction of Bipin during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, was well-known to the Israeli authorities. Assuring the family, he emphasized that Bipin was regarded “like an Israeli citizen” and that continuous efforts were being made for his release. He also suggested that more active engagement by the Government of Nepal with Arab countries could yield positive results.
The Joshi family also met Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, who reiterated that the search for all hostages, including Bipin, was ongoing. He highlighted the friendly Nepal–Israel ties and noted that the issue had been discussed with his Nepali counterpart during a recent meeting in Geneva.
In a statement, the Nepali Embassy confirmed that the Israeli government remained committed to securing Bipin’s release, while Nepal’s government was also pursuing the matter at the highest diplomatic levels.
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