Background: A Nepalese student in Israel’s farming program
Bipin Joshi, a 22-year-old Nepalese student, was part of a farming training and study program at Kibbutz Alumim near the Gaza border. He and 16 other Nepali students traveled to Israel in September 2023 to gain hands-on experience in modern agricultural techniques, a program that has long been a bridge between Nepali youths and Israeli farming innovation.
Joshi’s journey to Israel reflected a broader trend of international students seeking practical agricultural training within the country. The program offered real-world farming experience, exposure to advanced irrigation methods, and an opportunity to learn from veteran farmers. For Nepal, it was a rare link to a global agricultural ecosystem just as the region was slipping into conflict.
Heroic act and capture
On October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a brutal attack along multiple fronts, Joshi and his peers sheltered in a bomb bunker within Kibbutz Alumim. Reports from the Times of Israel detailed a moment of quick thinking and courage: Joshi grabbed a live grenade that landed inside the bunker and hurled it away, helping to save several lives before he was injured and captured by Hamas forces. That act of bravery turned him into a symbol of resilience for many in Nepal, Israel, and beyond.
After the attack, footage released by the Israeli military identified Joshi among those dragged into the Gaza Strip. He was last seen alive in footage depicting his transfer toward Gaza’s Shifa Hospital. His capture, injuries, and subsequent absence from further public sightings cemented his status as a hostage with international significance because he was the only Hindu and the only foreign student believed to be alive in Hamas captivity at that time.
Family advocacy and international attention
Joshi’s mother and younger sister, Pushpa, became the faces of a determined advocacy campaign. They traveled to Kathmandu, Israel, and the United States in search of support for his release, participating in events and lobbying officials. The family’s quiet resilience drew attention to the broader plight of hostages held in Gaza and the human costs of the conflict on families around the world.
In August, the family met with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog as part of a delegation of hostage families, highlighting longstanding efforts to secure his safe return. The release of footage showing Joshi under duress in captivity further galvanized public interest in his case and underscored the emotional weight carried by his loved ones and supporters.
The ceasefire deal and confirmation of death
On Monday, a ceasefire arrangement shifted the spotlight from negotiations to the human cost of the conflict. Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades announced the names of four deceased hostages, including Bipin Joshi, along with others who died in captivity. The ceasefire also allowed for the transfer of 20 living hostages to the Red Cross, which subsequently facilitated their repatriation to Israel. This development marked a bittersweet moment: while 20 families lauded the prospect of reunion, Nepal, and Joshi’s circle, faced the painful confirmation of his death.
Israeli authorities, including a military spokesperson, confirmed that Joshi’s remains were handed over by Hamas and would be subjected to DNA testing before repatriation to Nepal. The expectation is that his funeral will be coordinated with the Nepali embassy in Israel, allowing his family to lay him to rest in accordance with Nepali custom and international protocols.
Impact and legacy
Joshi’s death closes a painful chapter for his family and his countrymen, but his memory continues to influence discussions on hostage diplomacy, international student programs, and cross-border collaborations in agriculture. In Nepal, Joshi is remembered as a hero who displayed extraordinary courage under pressure. The broader international community—particularly those connected to hostages in conflict zones—continues to reflect on the arduous pathways toward safe and humane outcomes for detainees and their families.
Looking ahead
With DNA results pending and funeral plans under discussion, Nepal’s embassy and Israeli authorities are working together to ensure a respectful and timely repatriation. The case remains a stark reminder that beyond strategic calculations, individual lives and families bear the immediate human cost of geopolitical violence.
