At the heart of Tel Aviv, thousands gathered at ‘Hostages Square,’ waving banners, portraits and flags demanding the release of those still held in Gaza and an end to war. Among them stood Pushpa Joshi, sister of Nepali national Bipin Joshi, who has been held hostage by Hamas, her voice breaking as she addressed the crowd.

“How can anyone endure more than 680 days in a dark, unbearable room?” she cried. “For two years, my family has lived without our only son, and I have lived without my only brother, my very soul.”

After being invited by the government to Israel, Pushpa and her mother, Padma, travelled from Kanchanpur, Nepal. Their son and brother, 22-year-old Bipin Joshi, was among 251 people abducted when Hamas fighters stormed southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, including 10 Nepali students. Nearly two years later, Joshi remains one of 50 hostages still in captivity.

In her first public speech in Israel, Pushpa spoke in a mix of English and Nepali: “Dada, I miss you more than words can say. I miss your warm hugs, your voice, everything about you. I miss you so deeply.”

The family’s presence in Israel has drawn wide attention. Hostage families have become a rallying symbol, and Padma and Pushpa were placed at the centre of both public protests and high-level political meetings.

After the rally, Israeli President Isaac Herzog invited them to his residence. Holding Joshi’s portrait against his chest, Herzog said, “This is Bipin Joshi. Here are his mother and his sister. Bipin was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, at the age of 22. He came from Nepal to study agriculture and planned to return to his country to serve his family and people. We will do everything possible to bring him back.”

Immediately after, the President invited Pushpa to speak. Overcome with emotion, she broke down in tears. With folded hands, she said, “I want to thank all Israelis from the bottom of my heart. Your support gives us hope and means so much to me, my family, and especially my brother. I appeal to the international community for his release — please do everything you can to help.”

Padma, speaking through tears in Nepali, thanked Israel for bringing her and her daughter to Tel Aviv. She added, “For so long, we have had no news of my son, not even his voice.”

When Padma could not continue, Nepali Ambassador Dhana Prasad Pandit spoke on her behalf, emphasising Nepal’s hope for Joshi’s safe return. “We are deeply worried since we have no information about Bipin’s condition. We hope he will be released safely one day,” Pandit said in a video of the meeting provided by the Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu. “The Israeli government, the US, the United Nations, and the international community will take the initiative for the release of Bipin and the 50 others held hostage by Hamas. We hope the families will soon be reunited with their loved ones still in captivity.”

The Joshi family also met Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Sa’ar told them Israel was committed to freeing all hostages, both Israeli and foreign.

According to Shmulik Arie Bass, the Israeli Ambassador in Kathmandu, Padma and Pushpa expressed their sorrow at not having received any information about Bipin’s condition so far and requested that efforts be made for his safe release. Foreign Minister Sa’ar assured them that the Israeli government is continuously taking action and will do more. “Israel is deeply committed to returning all hostages, whether they are Israeli citizens or foreigners, like Bipin Joshi,” he said.

Joshi had come to Israel under the “Learn and Earn” agricultural training programme. Survivors said he was injured after heroically throwing back a grenade launched by Hamas, saving lives before being taken captive. A month later, Hamas released a video showing him receiving treatment in a Gaza hospital.

For Israel, Joshi’s case has become part of a larger campaign. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a five-point plan that includes taking full control of Gaza until all hostages are freed and Hamas dismantled. Rallies across the country have drawn over a million people demanding a deal for the hostages and an end to the war. At one such march, a massive Israeli flag printed with the faces of the remaining 50 hostages, including Joshi, was displayed.

Nepal has also increased its efforts. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said his government was working through the Nepali Embassy in Tel Aviv and with regional powers. “It is our responsibility to ensure the immediate release of Bipin Joshi,” Oli wrote on social media, noting that he had raised the issue directly with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Israeli officials continue to highlight Joshi’s bravery. Special Forces Captain Nadav Ben Yehuda told visiting Nepali journalists, “Bipin threw a terrorist’s grenade back at them, saving many lives. He is a hero for both Nepal and Israel. We will do everything possible to free him. I believe I will return him to Kathmandu once he is rescued.”

For Padma and Pushpa, every meeting and every rally is another reminder of the long silence since October 2023. Their words have become both plea and prayer. As Pushpa told the crowd at 'Hostages Square': “Please, do whatever you can. Bring my brother home.”