Bipin Joshi, Last-Known Hindu Hostage Held by Hamas, Confirmed Dead

More than two years after he was abducted during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel, the body of Bipin Joshi, a Nepalese Hindu student who saved the lives of his classmates, has been returned to Israel. His death was confirmed on Monday as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal, overshadowing celebrations over the release of 20 living hostages.

Joshi, 22 at the time of the attack, had travelled from Nepal to participate in an agricultural training programme at Kibbutz Alumim, near the Gaza border. He was the only non-Israeli and the only Hindu hostage believed to be alive in Gaza.

“The body of Bipin Joshi was handed over to Israeli authorities by Hamas and is being taken to Tel Aviv,” said Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit.

Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin confirmed that Hamas returned the bodies of four hostages, including Joshi’s. DNA testing will precede the repatriation of his remains to Nepal, though his funeral is expected to take place in Israel in coordination with the Nepali embassy.

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Heroic Acts on the Day of the Attack

Joshi’s journey to Israel began in September 2023 as part of a programme for Nepali students to gain hands-on experience in Israeli farming. On the morning of October 7, Hamas launched a surprise attack on the kibbutz.

• When grenades were thrown into the shelter, Joshi grabbed a live grenade and hurled it out, saving several lives.

• He was injured during the attack and subsequently captured by Hamas gunmen and taken into Gaza.

• Video footage released by the Israeli military later appeared to show him being dragged into Shifa Hospital, the last known sighting of him alive.

His mother and younger sister, Pushpa, travelled repeatedly to Kathmandu, Israel, and the US to lobby for his release, becoming symbols of resilience. Joshi would have turned 25 on October 26.

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Bodies Returned by Hamas

Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades released the names of four deceased hostages: Bipin Joshi, Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz. Their return was part of a ceasefire deal that also saw 20 living hostages released to the Red Cross, which facilitated their safe transfer to Israel.

Joshi had been the only Hindu and foreign student still believed alive in captivity. So far, Israeli authorities have formally declared 26 hostages dead based on forensic and intelligence reports.

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Bipin Joshi Remembered as a Hero

Joshi’s courage has been widely acknowledged in both Nepal and Israel. Ten of the 17 Nepali students in his programme were killed in the attack. Over nearly two years, his family kept his story alive through lobbying, international travel, and weekly protests at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square.

In August 2025, they met Israeli President Isaac Herzog as part of a delegation of hostage families. Just last week, footage surfaced showing Joshi filmed under duress in November 2023, reminding the world of his bravery and sacrifice.