KATHMANDU, MARCH 25
Israel has started paying monthly 'terror victims allowance' to the deceased students' family members in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Speaking to the Himalayan Times, the ambassador of the state of Israel, Hanan Goder, shared that he called upon Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane today. They had discussions over diplomatic issues and distributing the allowances to the deceased families.
According to him, they discussed the release of Bipin Joshi, a Hamas hostage, following the unexpected terror attack on October 7. "We have tried everything possible to bring Bipin back, but we have yet to succeed. For the time being, we could only distribute monthly allowances to deceased family members. We have already begun distributing the allowances, and they will receive them for the rest of their lives."
"Nepali students came to Israel as students, but they became family members once they arrived," Israeli Ambassador Hanan Goder told THT. "It is our responsibility to take care of our family members."
Ambassador Goder recently held a meeting with deceased family members and went personally to visit Aanand Sah family members in Sapahi-6, Dhanusha.
Ambassador Goder met with each family member of Aanand, who lost his life in a terror attack by Hamas. Aanand had gone to Israel through 'learn and earn' government-to- government programme.
Aanad's mother cried as she held Ambassador Goder's legs, while his sister cried and asked, 'Why did not you bring my brother? I can not live without my brother.'
Ambassador Goder stated, "The government of Israel's insurance will help the family every month for the father and mother forever; they will receive Israeli support every month."
Similarly, the ambassador in the meeting with DPM today also said that the Israeli government is also concerned about the condition of Bipin Joshi and informed that the Israeli government has started providing relief allowances to the families of 10 Nepalis who lost their lives.
Bipin, 23, is the only son of government teachers Mahanand Joshi and Padma Joshi. He lives permanently in Bhimdatta-3, Kanchanpur. He has a sister, Pushpa Joshi. All of his family members encouraged Bipin to go to Israel, where he could learn as well as earn, as the programme states.
However, after only a month in Israel, a deadly conflict erupted between Israel and Palestine, killing many civilians and innocent people.
Nepali students under the programme were trapped in bunkers. The government has already rescued 253 students. However, Bipin is untraceable, and reports indicate that he has been kidnapped by Hamas.
Basu Dev Joshi, Bipin's cousin brother, stated, "Bipin's friends informed us that he had been taken hostage. Similarly, several international media outlets have claimed that Bipin is in the hands of Hamas. However, none of the government agencies have provided us with information about his exact situation."
"Two grenades were thrown in his room. He threw the grenade, saving the lives of 17 people, including six in the bunker. We would not have survived if he had not thrown a grenade," said Bipin's friend Bibhusha Adhikari.
After saving the lives of his friends, he was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7. His DNA has not been matched to that of any deceased, and his phone was turned on for a few hours in the Hamas Occupied Area, leading to the belief that he is still a captive of Hamas.
