Kathmandu: Israel’s government on Friday approved a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, setting the stage for a suspension of fighting in Gaza within 24 hours and the release of Israeli hostages within the following three days.
Despite this breakthrough, uncertainty continues over the fate of Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who was abducted by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.
According to CNN, which cited official Israeli sources, 26 of the 48 remaining hostages are now presumed dead. The condition and whereabouts of Joshi and Israeli citizen Tamir Nimrodi remain unknown. Earlier, Israeli authorities had voiced “grave concern” regarding both individuals.
A video believed to have been recorded in November 2023 had shown Joshi alive in captivity. The footage, later retrieved by the Israeli military and shared by his family through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, depicts Joshi identifying himself as a Nepali agricultural student participating in Israel’s “Learn and Earn” programme.
If the ceasefire proceeds as planned, all remaining hostages in Gaza are expected to be freed by Monday—offering a glimmer of hope, but no definitive answers yet for Joshi’s loved ones.
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