Gaza. Nepali national Bipin Joshi has not been included in the list of 20 prisoners who are expected to be released after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Israel believed 22 people were still alive.

However, there is hope that Joshi may be among the remaining two remaining hostages. The ceasefire agreement was brokered by US President Donald Trump.

The hostages were abducted on October 7, 2023, during a historic attack on Israel by Hamas. The attack is considered to be the deadliest in Israel’s history.

Hamas’s armed wing released the names of the hostages to be released on its Telegram channel on Monday. Most of the 20 on the list were held captive by Hamas in various parts of the Gaza Strip. Some of them are soldiers, some are civilians and some are Israelis with foreign nationals.

The hostages are Matan Engrest, Gali and Ze’ev Berman, Elkana Bobot, Rome Braslowski, Nimrod Cohen, David and Ariel Kunio, Ivator David, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Maxim Harkin, Eitan Horn, Segev Kalfon, Bar Kuperstein, Omri Miran, Ethan Mor, Yosef Haim Ohana, Alon Ohel, Avinatan Orr and Matan Jangauker.

All of them appeared in videos and eyewitness statements made public by Hamas at various times. Many of them were Supernova music festival participants, soldiers or border residents.

Israeli officials said they were continuing diplomatic efforts to secure the return of the hostages. According to the Israeli president, the first phase of the ceasefire agreement would see the release of the 20 hostages and negotiations would move forward for the return of the remaining hostages.

The agreement between Hamas and Israel is seen as a significant step towards ending the more than two years of war, which began in October 2023. The exchange is part of a preliminary implementation of Trump’s proposed 20-point peace plan.

The families of the released hostages are gathering in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to express gratitude for the safe return of their loved ones. “The return of these citizens is the result of our collective determination and international partnership,” Israeli government officials said. There has been an atmosphere of relief and happiness across the country as loved ones returned safely from Gaza. ’

Twenty-four-year-old Nepali youth Joshi had gone to Israel from his birthplace Nepal only a month before the attack. He was working at a kibbutz alumim on the border with Gaza to participate in a student exchange program for agricultural studies.

Of the 17 Nepali students, 10 were killed in a Hamas attack. They were hiding in a bomb shelter and managed to escape the grenades hurled during the attack, but Joshi was injured and kidnapped.