Nepali student taken hostage by Hamas: Nepal govt

A Nepali student who went missing after a farm in Israel was attacked by Hamas has been taken hostage by the Palestine militant group and efforts are on to find him with the help of international organisations, the Nepal government said on Sunday.

Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Saturday last which killed 10 Nepali students. Six students were rescued and one went missing. The 17 Nepalese students were working as interns on the farm under the “Learn and Earn” scheme.

Bipin Joshi, who saved the lives of other Nepalese students when Hamas launched a grenade attack on them, has been abducted by the militant group, Foreign Minister NP Saud told a select group of international media representatives.

“Joshi has been taken hostage by Hamas. Based on information from his colleagues, Hamas took Joshi as a hostage and a group of Thai nationals. The Nepal government has requested international organisations and diplomatic missions to assist in locating Joshi," he said.

Joshi even threw away one of the two unexploded grenades, which were hurled by the Hamas on them, Saud said.

“The Israeli government has taken control of the dead bodies of the 10 Nepalese students killed in the terrorist attack,” he said.

“I spoke with Israel's Foreign Minister (Eli Cohen) on the matter, and we are working towards bringing back the bodies at the earliest. The Nepalese ambassador to Israel has also expressed a commitment to bringing back the bodies to Nepal as soon as possible,” Saud said. (PTI)