The body of Bipin Joshi, a 23-year-old Nepali student who was held captive by Hamas for nearly two years, has returned home to Nepal, marking a solemn end to a long and harrowing ordeal that began with the surprise Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. The repatriation of Joshi’s remains on October 20, 2025, brought closure to his family and a nation that had followed his story with hope, sorrow, and pride.
Joshi, enrolled in Israel’s Learn and Earn Programme, was among 17 Nepali students studying agriculture in southern Israel when Hamas militants launched a devastating assault on Kibbutz Alumim on October 7, 2023. According to PTI and The New Indian Express, ten of the Nepali students were killed in the attack, six managed to escape, and Joshi was taken hostage—an event that sent shockwaves through Nepal and the international community.
For months, the fate of Joshi remained uncertain. His family, especially his mother and sister, tirelessly campaigned for his release, seeking international intervention and holding onto hope for his safe return. However, as confirmed by the Israeli military and reported by Editorji, Joshi was killed in captivity during the early months of the conflict. The agony of not knowing his fate was compounded by the broader violence that engulfed the region—Israel’s response to the Hamas attack resulted in a war that, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, claimed the lives of over 66,000 Palestinians.
Joshi’s story, though marked by tragedy, is also one of heroism. Multiple outlets, including The New Indian Express and Devdiscourse, highlighted his bravery during the attack, noting that he saved many lives before being captured. His actions have been recognized as a testament to his courage and character, with Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki describing him as “a brave Nepali youth — a true son of Nepal.”
The process of bringing Joshi home was itself a reflection of the complex geopolitical landscape. After nearly two years in Hamas captivity, his body was handed over to the Israeli government as part of a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement that followed the end of the Israel-Hamas war. The ceasefire, reached on October 10, 2025, was a key component of the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which saw all 20 remaining living hostages released to Israel and the mortal remains of several deceased hostages—including Joshi—returned to their families. In exchange, Israel agreed to release nearly 2,000 prisoners and detainees, as reported by multiple sources including France 24 and The New Indian Express.
Joshi’s remains were flown from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv to Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, where a somber ceremony awaited. Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki led the tributes, draping Joshi’s coffin in the national flag and expressing the nation’s collective grief and admiration. “He will always live in the hearts of every Nepali,” Karki declared, acknowledging not only Joshi’s sacrifice but also the enduring efforts of his family during the two-year ordeal. “Although he is no longer in physical form, his courage and sacrifice will be remembered by the nation. He is a brave Nepali youth — a true son of Nepal.”
Karki also shared her personal sorrow, stating she had hoped Joshi would return alive to a hero’s welcome. “Although his body has returned lifeless, Bipin has immortalised the name of a brave Nepali,” she said, her words resonating with many who had followed the story. The ceremony at Tribhuvan International Airport was attended by government officials, military personnel, and Joshi’s family, all paying their respects to a young man whose life was cut short by conflict far from home.
Following the tribute in Kathmandu, Joshi’s body was flown by Nepali Army helicopter to his home district of Kanchanpur in Western Nepal. There, his family prepared to conduct his final rites according to religious traditions, bringing a measure of closure to a deeply painful chapter. The homecoming was both a moment of national mourning and a celebration of Joshi’s spirit—a reminder of the personal toll of international conflict and the resilience of those left behind.
The broader context of Joshi’s death is inseparable from the events that unfolded in Israel and Gaza over the past two years. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, triggering a war that devastated communities on both sides. While some hostages were released earlier in the conflict, the fate of many—including Joshi—remained a point of contention and negotiation until the recent ceasefire. The Gaza peace plan, spearheaded by the Trump administration, aimed to address the humanitarian crisis and secure the release of hostages, though it also involved complex prisoner exchanges and left many questions about long-term stability in the region.
For Nepal, Joshi’s story has become a symbol of the country’s global ties and the risks faced by its citizens abroad. The Learn and Earn Programme, which brought Joshi and his peers to Israel, was intended to provide valuable skills and opportunities. Instead, it became a backdrop for tragedy, with ten Nepali students losing their lives and others narrowly escaping. The government’s efforts to rescue Joshi, though ultimately unsuccessful, underscored the challenges of securing the safety of nationals in conflict zones and the limitations of diplomatic intervention in the face of armed conflict.
As the nation mourns, there is also a sense of pride in Joshi’s actions and the unity his story has inspired. The ceremonies in Tel Aviv and Kathmandu, the words of the Prime Minister, and the outpouring of support for his family all reflect a collective determination to honor his memory. In the words of Sushila Karki, “He will always live in the hearts of every Nepali.” Joshi’s legacy, forged in the crucible of conflict, now stands as a testament to courage, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds between nations and their people.
Joshi’s journey home has closed a painful chapter, but his story will continue to resonate—reminding Nepal, and the world, of the human cost of conflict and the power of resilience in the face of unimaginable loss.