Tragic Fate of Bipin Joshi: Nepalese Student Captured in Hamas Attack Confirmed Dead After Months in Captivity

Bipin Joshi had arrived in Israel just 25 days prior to the devastating October 7 attack in 2023.

On Monday, Hamas' military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced the deaths of four hostages held in their custody, including Nepalese national Bipin Joshi. He was among those abducted during Hamas' October 7, 2023 assault on southern Israel.

The militant group stated that the remains of Bipin Joshi, Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz would be transferred to Israeli authorities. Israeli officials had previously confirmed 26 hostages as deceased, based on thorough forensic evidence and intelligence evaluations.

Bipin Joshi was a 23-year-old Nepalese agriculture student who also pursued amateur rapping, according to The Wall Street Journal.

He originated from a remote village in western Nepal.

Joshi traveled to Israel through the "Learn and Earn" academic program, which provides Nepalese students the opportunity to gain practical experience on Israeli farms while continuing their agricultural education.

He had been in Israel for less than a month before the October 7, 2023 attack. Joshi worked at Kibbutz Alumim, an agricultural community in southern Israel, where his responsibilities included tending to orange and lemon orchards.

During the Hamas assault on October 7, reports indicate that Joshi heroically assisted several people seeking shelter at the Kibbutz. According to The Wall Street Journal, he helped others reach safety before Hamas militants captured him.

In November 2023, a brief 33-second video of Joshi emerged, believed to have been recorded in Gaza. In the footage, he introduced himself in English, stating, "My name is Bipin Joshi. I am from Nepal. I am 23 years old."

Israeli intelligence initially obtained the video before sharing it with Bipin Joshi's family. The family later decided to release it publicly to advocate for a hostage-exchange agreement.

His sister, Pushpa Joshi, currently residing in the US, had been leading efforts for his release. She explained that the video was shared to place pressure on negotiators and implored diplomats not to abandon the cause of the hostages.