Bipin Joshi, Nepalese Hindu student, taken hostage by Hamas confirmed dead

As a historic Gaza peace agreement gains momentum under a US-led Middle East summit spearheaded by President Donald Trump, a tragic development has cast a somber note over the diplomatic breakthrough.

The body of Bipin Joshi, a young Nepalese student who had been held hostage by Hamas for over two years, has been returned to Israel.

Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, confirmed to Nepali news outlet Republica late Monday night that Joshi’s remains were being transported to Tel Aviv.

“The body of Bipin Joshi was handed over to Israeli authorities by Hamas and is being taken to Tel Aviv,” Ambassador Pandit stated.

The Israeli military also confirmed that Hamas had returned the remains of four hostages, including Joshi. According to military spokesperson Effie Defrin, DNA testing will be conducted to formally identify the victims before repatriation. In Joshi’s case, his final rites will be held in Israel in coordination with the Nepali embassy.

Joshi, a Hindu from a small town in Nepal, had come to Israel in September 2023 as part of an agricultural work-study programme. Alongside 16 fellow students, he joined Kibbutz Alumim, located near the Gaza border, to gain hands-on experience in Israeli farming techniques.

That opportunity turned into tragedy on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale surprise attack on southern Israel. As sirens rang out, Joshi and his fellow students sought shelter in a bomb shelter. Moments later, armed militants stormed the area, hurling grenades into the shelter. One exploded, injuring several, but Joshi managed to throw out a second grenade before it detonated, an act that likely saved lives.

He was captured by Hamas militants shortly afterward and taken into Gaza. Israeli military-released footage later appeared to show him being dragged into Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, his last confirmed sighting.

For over two years, Joshi's family clung to hope. His mother and sister travelled to Israel and the United States, appealing for international intervention and his safe return.

Joshi would have turned 25 on October 26.

This week’s developments in the peace process, including the release of 20 living hostages by Hamas, were hailed as a diplomatic success. Yet the return of Joshi’s remains serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict—one that continues to leave deep wounds across the region.