Nepali Hostage in Gaza Not Alive: Israel
Nepali student Bipin Joshi, taken captive by Hamas on 7 October 2023, was not on the list of those freed after the end of the bombardment and fighting in Gaza.
On Monday, the Israeli military notified Bipin's family and Nepal's ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, that there is no evidence of him still being alive.
A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect, and hostage and prisoner exchanges started Monday morning.
- Almost 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons are expected to be released by Israel in exchange for hostages.
- The bodies of deceased hostages remaining in Gaza are also expected to be returned.
Nepal's Foreign Ministry is yet to be notified by Israel's government of Bipin's status.
No official statement from Israel's government on Bipin's status has been received by Nepal's Foreign Ministry.
Author's summary: Israel notifies Bipin's family of no evidence of him being alive.