After two years of uncertainty, Israel confirms the death of Bipin Joshi, the last Hindu hostage held by Hamas, marking a somber end to one of the most tragic hostage stories in recent history.
Over two years since he disappeared during the killing rampage of Hamas against southern Israel, the tale of 22 year old Nepalese Hindu student Bipin Joshi reached its sad conclusion. His body arrived back in Israel late Monday night, proving what his family dreaded but could not bear to accept.
The news of his death arrived as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal that saw 20 hostages freed — a moment that should have been filled with relief, but was instead shadowed by grief.Joshi’s return, though lifeless, is a moment of solemn closure to a tale of courage that transcended borders, and politics.
A Journey Fueled by Dreams, Bipin Joshi bid farewell to his tiny village in Nepal in September 2023, with ambitions to study, work, and make a better life. He was among 17 Nepalese students chosen for an agricultural study and work program at Kibbutz Alumim, a farming community in the vicinity of the Gaza border.
The initiative was under a government-sponsored exchange program that provided young Nepalese people with hands-on experience with Israel’s celebrated agriculture technology. For Joshi, this was a dream.
He was from a humble family, his mother Padma and younger sister Pushpa rallying behind him as he departed for Israel. “He wanted to study modern farming so that he could bring benefit to others at home,” one of his classmates remembered.But barely a month after his arrival, his life — and that of his friends — was turned over.
The Morning of Horror Before sunrise on October 7, 2023, southern Israeli skies became a smokescreen of fire and smoke. Hamas fighters had undertaken a massive surprise assault, storming in across the border. The tranquil Kibbutz Alumim, where Joshi and his friends resided, was transformed overnight into a war zone. As rockets rained down and gunfire moved forward, the Nepali student group evacuated for protection into a small bomb shelter. What ensued became Israeli and Nepali legend.
When the Hamas militants started tossing grenades into the bunker, people panicked. Amidst screams and chaos, Bipin Joshi sprang into action. As reported by The Times of Israel and Israeli army reports, he picked up a live grenade tossed into the shelter and tossed it out before it exploded — rescuing several of his schoolmates from certain death.Seconds afterwards, another blast shook the surrounding area, gravely injuring him.
Before people could move, Hamas fighters overwhelmed the survivors, and took Joshi captive, dragging him off to Gaza. That was the last time his friends heard from him.
A Flicker of Hope Amid SilenceIn the chaotic scene that followed, a video appeared to depict a wounded man — reported to be Joshi — being escorted into Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza by armed men. That was his last known appearance.
In Nepal, his family never gave up hope. His sister and mother became living symbols of stoic resolve, crossing borders to beg for assistance. Pushpa, his little sister, traveled to Kathmandu, Tel Aviv, and Washington D.C., meeting with diplomats and aid agencies, begging for the release of her brother.
From time to time, there were rumors that he could possibly still be alive. “We prayed every day,” Padma said to local journalists. “He saved lives that day. God should have saved his.”The Ceasefire Deal and the Heartbreaking Confirmation On October 13, 2025, the reality came to light. The military wing of Hamas, the Al-Qassam Brigades, published the names of four slain hostages: Bipin Joshi, Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz.
Their remains were handed over to Israeli forces in an agreement under a ceasefire that also involved the release of 20 surviving hostages via the Red Cross. Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, also confirmed the transfer: “The remains of Bipin Joshi were transferred to Israeli security officials by Hamas and are being transported to Tel Aviv.” Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin stated that the remains would undergo DNA analysis before the body would be repatriated to Nepal.
His funeral will be held in Israel in coordination with the Nepali embassy before his body is brought home for last rites. A Hero Remembered Across Nations Joshi’s name now stands as a symbol of humanity’s best qualities — courage, compassion, and sacrifice. He was the only Hindu and the only non-Israeli hostage believed to be alive in Gaza. Of the 17 Nepali students at Kibbutz Alumim, 10 were killed on the morning of the attack. The Israeli government has since declared 26 hostages dead based on forensic and intelligence findings.
Tributes have been flowing in both in Nepal and in Israel. Israeli soldiers who had been fighting to retake the border villages referred to him as “the brave Nepali.” The Nepalese government called him “a son who brought honour to his country even in death.”
At Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, where captives’ families converge every week, a candle with Bipin’s photograph still glows. His sister Pushpa, who stood there week after week carrying his picture, exclaimed between sobs, “He saved others – now the world will remember him for that. “
A Legacy of Light Bipin Joshi’s story is no longer just about loss; it is about extraordinary bravery in the face of terror. He was a young man who came to Israel to learn farming, not to fight a war. For his kin, his return is as much a source of heartache as closure.
For the world, Bipin Joshi’s existence serves as a poignant reminder that courage has no borders, and mankind perseveres even in the depths of war’s despair.Resting for the moment on Israeli soil as Bipin Joshi makes his way back home, he leaves behind not only the memory of a life lost too soon, but the eternally indelible record of a man who, in death, continues to inspire.
Alsi Read: Singapore Police Sends Crucial Query in Zubeen Garg Death Probe: Assam CM Hints at Good News Soon
