Israel says Bipin Joshi is no longer alive, as Gaza ceasefire takes effect

Kathmandu: Israel has officially informed that Nepali national Bipin Joshi, who went missing during the war between Israel and Hamas, is no longer alive.

According to the Embassy of Nepal in Israel, the Israeli government formally conveyed that Bipin, who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, is not alive, as Israel and Hamas started releasing hostages amid the Gaza ceasefire.

Ambassador Dhan Prasad Pandit told Nepal Views over the phone that the Israeli side had informed the embassy about Bipin.

On Monday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) contacted Ambassador Pandit to convey the information.

“The IDF reached out to inform us that Bipin is no longer alive. Israel also organized a video conference with his family to share this information collectively,” said Ambassador Pandit. “They have requested some time for the necessary formalities. The Israeli side has assured that they will try to recover the body, and if it is not possible, they will explain how he died.”

Following the Hamas–Israel truce, both sides have been releasing hostages. Hamas had already made public the list of 20 hostages to be released. Although there had been hope that Bipin might still be alive, it has now ended with Israel’s formal notification.

Joshi was last reportedly seen alive at Shifa Hospital in Gaza on November 23, 2023, with related video footage also having surfaced at the time.

After months of war, a ceasefire has now come into effect between Israel and Hamas, with the exchange of prisoners and hostages underway. Hamas is releasing 20 hostages today, but Bipin’s name is not on the list.

Bipin Joshi, a resident of Kanchanpur district in Sudurpaschim Province, had gone to Israel under the "Learn and Earn" program as a student at the Faculty of Agriculture, Far Western University. He was studying at Kibbutz Alumim in southern Israel when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, after which he went missing. He was 22 years old at that time.

On the day of the attack, Bipin was last seen in video and photo footage from the Kibbutz area.

Since direct communication with Hamas was not possible, the Government of Nepal had made multiple attempts to obtain information through Israeli and Qatari authorities, but with no success. Although the truce agreement — brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States — stated that priority would be given to foreign nationals, Bipin’s name was not included in the list.

Bipin’s family in Kanchanpur had long awaited positive news, holding onto the belief that he would return home.

Under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Hamas has been releasing hostages while Israel releases Palestinian prisoners.

Bipin had gone missing just 25 days after arriving in Israel. During the same attack, 10 Nepali students from Sudurpaschim University were killed.

The Nepal government and international community had repeatedly raised concerns and called for Bipin’s release. Demonstrations and appeals were held at various times demanding stronger diplomatic efforts.

A year ago, then Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba had urged the international community to assist in Bipin’s release while addressing the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in New York, saying, “Nepal is eagerly waiting to welcome Bipin Joshi home.”

Israeli intelligence officials had earlier claimed on October 9 to have obtained a video of Bipin, which later turned out to be old footage. In that video, Bipin identified himself and spoke about his purpose for coming to Israel, leading his family to believe that he was still alive.

Earlier, Bipin’s mother, Padma, and sister, Pushpa, had traveled to Israel at the government’s initiative to seek his whereabouts. They later traveled to the United States while continuing their appeals.

During their visit to Israel, they met Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, requesting their help in Bipin’s release. Upon returning, they also met the then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who had assured them that the government was doing everything possible to secure Bipin’s release.