The fate of Bipin Joshi, a young Nepali student kidnapped by Hamas from southern Israel last October, has finally been confirmed. On Monday night, Hamas handed over four bodies of deceased hostages to Israeli authorities, including Joshi’s — ending months of anguish for his family and his home country.
Joshi, just 24, had arrived in Israel only three weeks before the October 7, 2023, attacks. He was one of several Nepali nationals participating in the “Learn and Earn” agricultural training program, which placed students on Israeli farms to gain skills and income. His first posting was at Kibbutz Alumim, near the Gaza border — one of the communities that suffered devastating losses during Hamas’s assault.
Witnesses later described how Joshi, showing extraordinary courage, helped save several of his peers by leading them to a shelter before militants overran the site. Ten Nepalis were killed that day, five were wounded, and one escaped unhurt. Joshi himself was taken hostage by Hamas fighters and remained missing for nearly a year.
On Sunday night, Nepal’s ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, said the embassy had not received any official notice regarding Joshi’s status. The next day, Hamas published a list of four deceased hostages whose bodies were to be returned to Israel — confirming Joshi’s inclusion. The others named were Israelis Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz.
Israeli Defense Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Deffrin confirmed that four bodies were repatriated on Monday evening. NGOs supporting migrant workers in Israel declined to comment until formal forensic identification was completed.
The Hostage Families Forum — representing relatives of those abducted on October 7 — reacted sharply to Hamas’s partial compliance with the ceasefire deal. In a statement, the group demanded the immediate suspension of Israel’s agreement with Hamas until the return of all deceased hostages. “Hamas’s violation of the agreement must be met with a very serious response from the government and the mediators,” the forum said.
For Nepal, Joshi’s death has reopened painful wounds. The October 7 massacre claimed more Nepali lives than any single event abroad in the country’s modern history. Tributes poured in from Kathmandu and across the diaspora. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed deep sorrow, calling Joshi “a symbol of the courage and sacrifice of Nepali youth working overseas.”
Humanitarian organizations have urged Israel and Hamas to ensure the safe return of all remaining hostages and full accountability for foreign victims. Rights groups note that migrant laborers, including hundreds from Asia and Africa, have borne a disproportionate toll in the conflict — often overlooked amid the broader political and military narratives.
As Israel awaits the release of all remaining bodies, Joshi’s story stands as a reminder of how far the tragedy of Gaza has reached — from border communities in southern Israel to the distant hills of Nepal. His family, who once dreamed of his return with new skills and a better future, now await his remains with grief and pride in equal measure.
