Mother and Sister of Nepali Man Held by Hamas Travel to U.S. to Lobby for His Release

The mother and sister of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student held hostage by Hamas, have traveled to the United States to advocate for his release on the international stage. Padma Joshi, Bipin’s mother, and Pushpa Joshi, his sister, departed from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, bound for New York.

In a social media post, Pushpa described the trip as a critical step to elevate her brother’s plight to an international audience. She urged the public to support their efforts to secure Bipin’s safe return. During their visit, the family plans to meet with United Nations officials to plead for urgent action to free Bipin, who has been held captive for nearly two years.

Bipin Joshi, a 23-year-old from Kanchanpur, Nepal, was in Israel as part of a “Learn and Earn” agricultural training program when he was taken hostage. He has been out of contact with his family since October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a devastating cross-border attack on southern Israel. The assault killed over 1,200 people, including 10 other Nepali students in the same program, and led to the abduction of more than 250 individuals, many of whom remain in captivity.

The Nepali government has stated that it is pursuing diplomatic efforts to secure Bipin’s release, but no significant progress has been reported. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction, has complicated negotiations.

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Hamas released what it described as “farewell photos” of 48 hostages, raising fears about their fate. The images, widely circulated online, assigned each hostage a name and number, such as “Ron Arad-1” and “Ron Arad-2,” referencing a missing Israeli airman from the 1980s whose case remains unresolved. Bipin Joshi was identified in the series as “Ron Arad-38,” intensifying concerns for his safety.

This is not the first time Padma and Pushpa have sought international support. In 2024, they traveled to Israel, where they met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana to appeal for Bipin’s release. Despite their efforts, Bipin remains in captivity, and the family hopes their advocacy at the United Nations will pressure global leaders to prioritize the hostages’ release.

The war, sparked by the October 7 attack, has led to over 41,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced millions. International mediators, including the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, have repeatedly attempted to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal, but talks have stalled amid escalating violence.