KATHMANDU, JANUARY 20
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, held a telephonic conversation today with her Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, requesting his intervention to secure the release of Nepali hostage Bipin Joshi, who has been held by Hamas in Gaza for 15 months.
Following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, hostages have begun to be released since Sunday. The Foreign Minister urged Egypt, a key facilitator in the ceasefire negotiations, to prioritize Joshi's release during the initial phase.
Dr. Rana, currently in Bangkok for medical treatment, made the call from there. In response, the Egyptian Minister assured her that he would instruct Egypt's facilitators to prioritize efforts for Joshi's release.
A few days earlier, Dr. Rana also reached out to Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, and Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, seeking their intervention in ensuring Joshi's release in the initial phase. Notably, Khulaifi plays a significant role in the Israel-Hamas peace negotiations.
The Nepali government has been actively pursuing diplomatic efforts since last year to secure Bipin's release.
The Foreign Minister has consistently appealed through various international and regional platforms, including the United Nations, to facilitate his freedom.