Kathmandu, Oct 14 : Hamas has confirmed the death of Nepali student Bipin Joshi, who was held captive in Gaza since October 7, 2023. According to the Israeli military, citing Hamas sources, preparations are underway to hand over the bodies of four hostages, including Joshi, to the Red Cross.
Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Efi Defrin said the handover of the bodies—identified as Gai Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi, and Daniel Perez—is being arranged. Joshi, a student of agriculture under Israel’s “Learn and Earn” program, had been abducted from a kibbutz just weeks after arriving in the country.
Reports say Joshi threw a grenade out of a bunker during the Hamas attack, saving some of his friends before being captured. Hamas later confirmed his abduction.
Illouz’s family was informed of his death 56 days after the attack, while Sharabi was reportedly killed when the building he was held in collapsed following an Israeli airstrike. Perez’s death was confirmed in March 2024. Until recently, Joshi’s fate remained unclear, with some media outlets speculating he might still be alive.
Hamas has now said many hostages’ bodies may never be recovered due to widespread destruction in Gaza, claiming that several were buried near buildings later destroyed in Israeli strikes.
Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, said Israel has not yet issued a formal statement but has communicated informally about Joshi’s death. The Israeli military will proceed with DNA verification before transferring the remains.
Joshi was the only son of his family. His mother, Padma, and sister, Pushpa, are currently in the United States.

People's News Monitoring Service