Kathmandu — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have officially informed that Nepali student Bipin Joshi, missing since the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, is no longer alive. The confirmation was conveyed on Monday during a video conference between IDF officials, the Nepali Embassy in Israel, and Joshi’s family members.Nepal’s Ambassador to Israel Dhan Prasad Poudel said the Israeli officials directly informed the family of the development.
“During the video call, the IDF officials told us and the family, ‘He is no more,’” Ambassador Poudel said. Bipin’s mother Padma Joshi and sister Pushpa Joshi joined the call from the United States, while other relatives including Kishor Joshi, the ambassador, and IDF representatives attended from Israel.
Ministry Reacts With Caution
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reacted cautiously, saying the IDF’s statement may still be an assessment rather than a final conclusion. Spokesperson Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri said, “The IDF’s remark appears to be an assessment. In earlier cases, some initial findings were later revised. We remain hopeful that Bipin is alive until verified evidence confirms otherwise.”
The ministry added that while the Israeli side continues to update its data, previous reports have occasionally changed after verification. Bipin Joshi was among the Nepali students studying in Israel under the ‘Learn and Earn’ program of Far Western University.
He went missing on October 7, 2023 (Asoj 20, 2080 B.S.), when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel. That attack killed 10 Nepali students, while Bipin was taken hostage by Hamas militants.
To secure his release, Bipin’s mother and sister traveled to Israel and later to the United States for diplomatic and humanitarian coordination. The Israeli government had supported their travel and meetings with relevant officials.
Hostage Updates and Broader Context
According to the latest IDF update, of the 48 hostages still under Hamas control, only 20 are confirmed alive. The remaining 28 are believed to have died, and their bodies are expected to be handed over to Israel in stages.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas abducted 251 individuals during its attack on Israel. Over nearly two years, several ceasefires and hostage exchanges have resulted in the release of 203 captives, while efforts continue to free the rest.
