The agreement of a cease-fire in Gaza raised hopes of the hostage’s son returning to Nepal

“It was a very lonely experience,” says Mahananda.

Mr Pandit, Nepal’s ambassador to Israel, told the BBC that he often contacted the family and visited the village.

Mahananda paints a slightly different picture, noting that at the beginning of the war the family received many visits from officials, but as it dragged on they were increasingly left alone.

“Since the new ceasefire agreement, no one has come to us or communicated with us at all,” he said.

“Everything we know comes from the news.”

A spokesman for Israel’s President’s office, Isaac Herzog, who has been working with the families of the hostages for the past 15 months, said it treats all hostages the same, whether Israeli or from abroad, and is working diligently to free them all. .

For some families, news of the ceasefire brought hope that their 15-month ordeal would come to an end and they would see their loved ones again within weeks.

For others, like Joshis, all hope should be tempered.

The longer they have to wait, the more likely the ceasefire deal can fall apart.

At home in Bispuri Mahendranagar on Thursday, Bipin’s sister Puspa held a photograph of her brother as he spoke.

Tears filled his eyes when he spoke about him returning home. He was sure he would.

“And when I see him again, I’ll hug him,” she said. “And cry.”