Background: A Nepali student’s journey to a border community
Bipin Joshi, a 22-year-old from Nepal, traveled to Israel in 2023 to participate in an agricultural training program at Kibbutz Alumim, near the Gaza border. The project offered Nepali students practical experience in modern farming while connecting them to a country with a long, complex history of security challenges along the frontier with Gaza.
Joshi was part of a cohort of Nepali students who hoped to learn, contribute, and build cross-border ties through agricultural exchange. The program’s purpose, for many families back home, was less about diplomacy and more about opportunity for the younger generation seeking hands-on training.
The incident: A life-saving act amid a brutal attack
On the morning of October 7, Hamas launched a mass assault on Israeli communities, including Kerem Shalom and nearby towns. In the chaos, Joshi’s group took shelter in a bomb bunker as the attack intensified. According to reports from the Times of Israel and other outlets, Joshi performed a courageous act that likely saved lives: he grabbed a live grenade and threw it out of the shelter, protecting others before the device exploded. He sustained injuries during the incident and was later captured by Hamas forces and taken into Gaza.
Video released by the Israeli military in the days that followed appeared to show Joshi being dragged into Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, the last documented moment of him alive. His captivity, amid a broader hostage crisis, drew attention to the plight of non-Israeli students and foreign nationals who found themselves caught in the conflict’s crossfire.
Hamas, hostages, and the ceasefire deal
In what was widely reported as a ceasefire arrangement, Hamas handed over the bodies of four hostages, including Bipin Joshi, to Israeli authorities late Monday night. The exchange also saw 20 living hostages released to the Red Cross and subsequently brought to Israel. DNA testing was planned to confirm identities before repatriation to their home countries.
Officials from Nepal confirmed Joshi’s death as part of the ceasefire terms. Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, stated that Joshi’s body was being transported to Tel Aviv for handling and subsequent formal procedures. Israel’s military spokesperson Effie Defrin corroborated the release of the bodies as part of the deal.
Reaction from Nepal and humanitarian significance
Joshi’s family and supporters have long framed him as a symbol of quiet resilience. His mother and sister, Pushpa, traveled multiple times to Kathmandu, Israel, and the United States to advocate for his release, becoming visible faces of a broader humanitarian effort to secure the freedom of hostages and ensure dignified treatment for the deceased. The family’s efforts, alongside other hostage families, drew attention to the personal toll of the conflict on families who become advocates in the face of uncertainty.
Nepal, which does not have formal diplomatic ties with every party in the conflict, has treated Joshi’s case with urgency. The Nepali embassy and international partners have coordinated efforts for consular support, DNA verification, and eventual repatriation of remains. The death of Joshi also underscores the vulnerability of foreign students who were in Israel for educational and vocational purposes when hostilities escalated.
Looking ahead: memorials, repatriation, and remembrance
Joshi’s funeral is expected to take place in Israel, in coordination with Nepal’s embassy, after formal arrangements like DNA confirmation and transport logistics. As Nepal and Israel mourn, there is also a broader conversation about the safety and protection of foreign students in conflict zones, and the responsibilities of host nations to safeguard international students during crises.
Timeline highlights
- September 2023: Joshi joins a Nepali agricultural study program at Kibbutz Alumim.
- October 7, 2023: Joshi aids others during a Hamas attack, is injured, and is captured.
- October 2023–November 2023: Footage of his captivity circulates; families rally for his release.
- October 2024–October 2025: Ceasefire deal leads to the release of living hostages and the return of Joshi’s body for repatriation.
