More than two years after his abduction during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 assault on southern Israel, the body of Nepali student Bipin Joshi, hailed as a hero for saving his classmates, has been returned to Israel. His remains were handed over late Monday as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal that also saw 20 living hostages freed.
Body handed over under ceasefire deal
Joshi, then 22, was among 17 Nepali students attending an agricultural training programme at Kibbutz Alumim, located near the Gaza border. He was the only foreign and Hindu hostage believed to be alive in Gaza.
Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, confirmed to Republica that Hamas handed over Joshi’s body to Israeli authorities on Monday night. “The body of Bipin Joshi was handed over to Israeli authorities by Hamas and is being taken to Tel Aviv,” he said. DNA testing will be conducted before his remains are repatriated to Nepal.
Israel’s military spokesperson Effie Defrin said that Hamas had returned the bodies of four hostages, including Joshi’s. The others were identified as Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz.
A hero who saved lives at Kibbutz Alumim
Joshi’s story began in September 2023 when he joined a group of Nepali students on a work-study programme designed to teach modern farming techniques in Israel. On the morning of October 7, 2023, as Hamas militants stormed the border, the students took refuge in a bomb shelter.
According to The Times of Israel, when militants lobbed grenades into the bunker, Joshi grabbed one live grenade and hurled it out before it exploded, saving several of his classmates. He sustained injuries and was later captured by Hamas gunmen, who took him across the border into Gaza.
Video evidence later released by Israeli forces showed Joshi being dragged into Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, marking his last known appearance alive.
Family’s two-year wait ends in grief
For nearly two years, Joshi’s family — including his mother Padma and sister Pushpa — campaigned relentlessly for his release. They travelled between Nepal, Israel and the United States to raise awareness of his case and became symbols of quiet resilience among families of hostages.
Joshi would have turned 25 on October 26 this year. His mother and sister were part of the delegation of hostage families who met Israeli President Isaac Herzog in August. Only last week, they released a video of Joshi recorded under duress in captivity in November 2023.
Ten of the 17 Nepali students who were with him at Kibbutz Alumim were killed during the initial assault. Joshi’s bravery and sacrifice have since become a symbol of courage both in Nepal and Israel.
Hamas releases four bodies, 20 hostages alive
Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades on Monday released the names of four deceased hostages whose bodies were returned to Israel as part of the latest truce arrangement. Alongside the four bodies, 20 living hostages were freed and handed over to the Red Cross before being brought into Israel.
According to Israeli authorities, at least 26 hostages have been formally declared dead based on forensic and intelligence assessments.
Tributes pour in for Bipin Joshi
In both Nepal and Israel, tributes have poured in for Joshi, who is now remembered as a hero who displayed extraordinary courage in the face of terror. Israel’s embassy in Kathmandu said in a statement that Joshi’s “sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
In Nepal, social media was flooded with messages honouring his bravery and mourning the loss of a young man whose selflessness saved lives. The government of Nepal is coordinating with Israel to bring his remains home for final rites.