Bipin Joshi's family awaits news of his fate as a ceasefire fuels their hopes for his release.
Hope for Hostage Family as Ceasefire in Gaza Brings Renewed Hopes
Hope for Hostage Family as Ceasefire in Gaza Brings Renewed Hopes
A ceasefire agreement spurs a family in Nepal to cling to hope for their son, Bipin Joshi, held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
In a quiet village in western Nepal, Mahananda Joshi waits anxiously for news of his son, Bipin, a 23-year-old agriculture student taken hostage by Hamas during an attack on October 7, 2023. With his phone always at hand and never silenced, Mahananda clings to the hope that each ring could bring a message or, better yet, his son's voice.
Bipin was among several foreign workers, including other Nepalese students, kidnapped amid chaos in southern Israel. While some hostages were released shortly afterward, Bipin remains among the nine still held without clear explanations for their continued captivity. The family's last contact with Bipin was a reassuring phone call he made on October 6, just before his kidnapping, leaving them with a mixture of heartache and hope.
Recent news of a temporary ceasefire has provided a flicker of optimism for Bipin's family. “I feel like he will message me today or tomorrow saying, ‘Mummy, I am free now and I will return home immediately,’” his mother Padma expressed, reflecting the longing of a family separated by uncertainty. However, the initial phase of the ceasefire prioritizes the release of vulnerable hostages, leaving Bipin's fate uncertain and their hopes fragile.
Mahananda and Padma live in a simple white home in Bispuri Mahendranagar, near the Indian border, grappling daily with the pain of separation. Their ordeal began on the day of the kidnappings when Mahananda learned from friends that Bipin had been taken, while also processing the tragic news that other Nepalese students had been killed in the attack.
As time passes, the sense of isolation grows for the family. Despite initial outreach from Nepali officials, recent weeks have seen a lack of communication, leaving them to rely on news reports for updates. “Since the new ceasefire agreement, no one has come to see us or communicated with us at all. Everything we know comes from the news,” Mahananda shared, highlighting their growing loneliness.
The families of the hostages hope that this ceasefire signals an end to their prolonged suffering. Yet, for the Joshis, each moment brings the fear that their hopes might dissipate if the ceasefire falters or if negotiations stagnate. Puspa, Bipin’s younger sister, recalls her brother and waits with tears in her eyes for the moment they can embrace again, believing in the possibility of his return.
Bipin was among several foreign workers, including other Nepalese students, kidnapped amid chaos in southern Israel. While some hostages were released shortly afterward, Bipin remains among the nine still held without clear explanations for their continued captivity. The family's last contact with Bipin was a reassuring phone call he made on October 6, just before his kidnapping, leaving them with a mixture of heartache and hope.
Recent news of a temporary ceasefire has provided a flicker of optimism for Bipin's family. “I feel like he will message me today or tomorrow saying, ‘Mummy, I am free now and I will return home immediately,’” his mother Padma expressed, reflecting the longing of a family separated by uncertainty. However, the initial phase of the ceasefire prioritizes the release of vulnerable hostages, leaving Bipin's fate uncertain and their hopes fragile.
Mahananda and Padma live in a simple white home in Bispuri Mahendranagar, near the Indian border, grappling daily with the pain of separation. Their ordeal began on the day of the kidnappings when Mahananda learned from friends that Bipin had been taken, while also processing the tragic news that other Nepalese students had been killed in the attack.
As time passes, the sense of isolation grows for the family. Despite initial outreach from Nepali officials, recent weeks have seen a lack of communication, leaving them to rely on news reports for updates. “Since the new ceasefire agreement, no one has come to see us or communicated with us at all. Everything we know comes from the news,” Mahananda shared, highlighting their growing loneliness.
The families of the hostages hope that this ceasefire signals an end to their prolonged suffering. Yet, for the Joshis, each moment brings the fear that their hopes might dissipate if the ceasefire falters or if negotiations stagnate. Puspa, Bipin’s younger sister, recalls her brother and waits with tears in her eyes for the moment they can embrace again, believing in the possibility of his return.
