Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba held a telephone conversation with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Tuesday morning to discuss the release of Nepali student Bipin Joshi who is currently under the control of Hamas.
During the conversation, Rana requested her Israeli counterpart to make special efforts for Joshi’s release. In response, Minister Sa’ar assured that the Israeli government was making maximum efforts to secure Joshi’s release.
“It was reassuring to speak with Mr Gideon Sa’ar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, over the telephone today. We discussed efforts to secure the release of Bipin Joshi, who has been held captive by Hamas since 7 October 2023,” Rana said in a social media post on Tuesday evening.
Minister Rana has expedited diplomatic efforts to secure Joshi’s release following reports that Hamas is preparing to release some hostages taken under control during its attack on Israel in October 2023. Last week, Rana appealed to the Egyptian government to make necessary efforts for Joshi’s release. She has also raised the issue at the United Nations and other international and regional platforms.
Israel and Hamas are inching closer to agreeing a ceasefire, according to media reports. According to BBC, talks to reach a deal resumed this morning, with key mediator Qatar saying an agreement was “very close”. “Speaking at a news conference in Doha, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari says negotiations are in their “final stages” and the major issues that had prevented a deal from happening have been “addressed”,” wrote BBC.
