Kathmandu, Jan. 10
The Government of Nepal has once again
urged the governments of Qatar and Egypt to help in securing the release of
Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who has been held captive by the Palestinian Hamas
group since October 2023.
According to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MoFA) of Nepal, the appeal was made through the ambassadors of Egypt
and Qatar to Nepal.
"Following reports that Hamas plans to
release 34 captives, Nepal's Foreign Minister, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, reached out
to the governments of Qatar and Egypt—both mediators in discussions with
Hamas—requesting their support in freeing Bipin," the MoFA said.
Bipin was among those abducted by Hamas
during the October 2023 attack on Israeli soil, where the Palestinian group
killed over 1,000 people, including 10 Nepalis. Nepal has been pursuing
diplomatic efforts for his release since then.
In a meeting with Egypt’s Ambassador to
Nepal, Noha Hamdy Ahmed ElGebaly at the MoFA on Friday, she reiterated the
request. Similarly, the Foreign Minister spoke to Qatar’s Ambassador to Nepal,
Mishal Mohammed Al-Ansari over the telephone seeking his government’s
intervention. Al-Ansari who is currently in Qatar assured FM Dr. Rana that he
would discuss the matter with Qatar’s Foreign Minister and provide updates.
Hamas reportedly intends to release elderly
individuals, women, children, and those in fragile health conditions as part of
the first phase of their plan. Minister Dr. Rana urged both governments to
include Bipin in this group for release.
Last Wednesday, Dr. Deuba also made a
similar appeal to the Israeli government through Israel's Ambassador to Nepal,
Shmulik Arie Bass.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 11 January 2025.
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