Two years on, Nepali student Bipin Joshi’s name is missing from Hamas’ new hostage list, deepening his family’s despair. Photos: X.
Bipin Joshi, a 24-year-old Nepali student, was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. However, as Hamas released the fresh list of hostages, his name was missing. The development has anguished his family back home. Joshi has been in Hamas custody for over two years now.
20 hostages were freed on Monday as part of a new US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. According to a BBC report, Israeli authorities have told Nepal’s ambassador that there are no signs that Joshi is alive.
Joshi was in Israel as a student under the Learn and Earn Programme. The flagship program is run by the Israeli Embassy in Kathmandu. Under this scheme, Nepali students travel to Israel for work and study. According to the reports, Joshi, along with 16 other Nepali students, was posted at Kibbutz Alumim, a farming community near the Gaza border.
In 2023, Hamas attacked the kibbutz on October 7. During that attack, ten Nepali students were killed, five were injured, and one escaped unhurt. However, Joshi was abducted by Hamas with a Thai national.
During the last two years, Nepal ratcheted its diplomatic efforts to get Joshi; however, Kathmandu was unable to secure his release.
Joshi is believed to be the only Hindu hostage held by Hamas, alongside other foreign nationals.
During the attack, Joshi displayed remarkable presence of mind. According to The Times of Israel, he deflected a grenade lobbed by the militants, a split-second act that may have saved his life and those of others around him.
Moments before his abduction, Joshi managed to send a series of messages to his cousin in Nepal.
“If something happens to me, you have to take care of my family. Be strong and always look toward the future,”
he wrote in what would be his last known communication.
Also Read: Gaza Ceasefire: Hamas Hands Over First 7 Hostages To Red Cross As Part Of Peace Deal
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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