Nepalese Student Bipin Joshi Appears in Hamas Hostage Video After Two Years of Captivity

The family of Nepalese agriculture student Bipin Joshi has released a video believed to be recorded in Gaza during November 2023, showing the young man who has been held hostage by Hamas for nearly two years.

Israeli intelligence officials initially obtained the footage, which was then shared with Joshi's family but remained under censorship until its recent release.

According to Pushpa Joshi, Bipin's sister who spoke with The Jerusalem Post, the decision to release the video aims to accelerate negotiations for the hostages' release. This footage represents the only proof of life the family has received since Bipin's abduction from Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel, where he had been working as part of his agricultural studies.

In the brief 33-second video, Joshi speaks directly to the camera in English, stating: "My name is Bipin Joshi. I am from Nepal. I am 23 years old. I came here to Israel 25 days ago. I came here for the 'Learn and Earn programme,' I am a student. I work in agricultural farm[ing] in citrus and lemon farm." At the conclusion of the recording, he gazes silently off-screen without moving his head.

Pushpa Joshi, currently in the United States advocating for her brother's freedom, explained that the family chose this moment to release the video to intensify pressure on negotiators involved in hostage release talks.

In her appeal to diplomats, she expressed the family's growing desperation: "It's almost two years, and we can't wait anymore. And we have no power to wait anymore. Please don't go back. Please don't look back. And try to understand the pain of the hostages and the hostages' family. And take good action for their safe release."

The Joshi family acknowledged the emotional difficulty of sharing this footage during such a "critical and historic" period. In their statement, they emphasized: "This sign of life found in Gaza, which we are sharing with you today, serves as an anchor and a confirmation of our steadfast belief that he is alive. It is not easy for us to share it publicly, but we are in critical and historic days that will determine the fate of the 48 hostages."

They concluded with a heartfelt plea: "We call on all diplomatic and international actors involved: Do not give up on them. Bring the day. Bring them home."

Bipin Joshi originated from a remote village in western Nepal and had arrived in Israel just three weeks before the October 7 attack to participate in an academic farming program. According to a Wall Street Journal report, he heroically helped save several people in a shelter at Kibbutz Alumim during the Hamas attack before being captured.

The report detailed that "Before they could move, though, the militants returned with reinforcements. The gunmen barged through the kitchen doors and grabbed Bipin and three Thai farmers hiding nearby. Bipin hasn't been heard from since."