The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have formally announced that Bipin Joshi, a Nepali national, is no longer alive.
This information was conveyed by the Israeli government during a video conference with Bipin's family members and the Nepali Embassy in Israel.
Nepali Ambassador to Israel, Dhan Prasad Pandit, said that the IDF held a video conversation with him and Bipin's family. "He is no more," Ambassador Panidit quoted the IDF as saying during the video conference.
Ambassador Pandit added that IDF officials reported that Hamas will soon release the remaining 20 living hostages. However, the bodies of some of the deceased, including Bipin, have not been found. Bipin's mother, Padma, and sister, Pushpa, joined the video conference from the US, along with family member Kishor Joshi, Ambassador Pandit, and IDF officials.
However, the IDF's statement might be just an assessment, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bipin, a student from the Sudurpaschim University, who had gone to Israel on ‘Learn and Earn’ program, was among Nepali students attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Ten Nepali students were killed in the attack. He was reportedly abducted from Kibbutz on the same day and taken to Gaza Strip. Earlier, the IDF had made public a video footage of Bipin presumedly shot in November, 2023.
His mother, Padma, and sister, Pushpa, traveled to the US on September 25 to advocate for Bipin's release, after visiting Israel to appeal to the government for the same.
Hamas had previously released a farewell photo of Bipin and 47 other hostages in their control in late September. Of the 48 remaining hostages, only 20 are now confirmed to be alive. The 28 deceased hostages will be handed over to Israel by Hamas in phases, according to the ceasefire deal.
Hamas took 251 people hostage to Gaza during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Over the nearly two-year period, 203 hostages have been released through previous ceasefires and prisoner swaps.
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