The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have formally informed that Nepali national Bipin Joshi is no longer alive.
According to Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Poudel, the IDF relayed this information during a video conference held earlier today with Joshi’s family and the Nepali Embassy in Israel.
“During the video call, IDF officials told us and the family, ‘He is no more,’” Ambassador Poudel told Setopati, a Nepali-language online news portal. “They conveyed the information directly in front of his family.”
Bipin’s mother, Padma, and sister, Pushpa, who joined from the United States, as well as family member Kishor Joshi, Ambassador Poudel, and IDF representatives, participated in the call.
However, Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken a cautious stance, stating that the IDF’s statement may still be based on an assessment rather than confirmed evidence since there have been instances in the past where their information later changed.
Bipin travelled to Israel as part of Sudurpaschim University’s ‘Learn and Earn’ programme. He was one of the Nepali students caught up in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of ten Nepali students.
His mother and sister had flown to Israel in an attempt to secure his release and later travelled to the United States to continue their efforts. The Israeli government had facilitated their travel.
Earlier, Hamas had released what it claimed were farewell images of 48 hostages, including Bipin. Of those remaining in Hamas captivity, it is believed that only 20 are still alive. The 28 who are presumed dead will reportedly be returned to Israel in phases.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel and took 251 people hostage to Gaza. Over the past two years, through intermittent ceasefires and prisoner exchanges, 203 hostages have already been released.
