Two Years in Captivity: The Heartbreaking Saga of Bipin Joshi
For 727 days, the Joshi family from a remote Himalayan village has lived in agonizing uncertainty—wondering if their son, Bipin Joshi, the only Nepali citizen abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, is still alive. Now, their desperate campaign for his release faces a new threat: political collapse in Nepal.
From Kibbutz Alumim to Captivity in Gaza
Bipin Joshi, then 23, had just arrived in Israel to study and work at Kibbutz Alumim near the Gaza border when Hamas militants stormed the settlement. Dozens were killed, and Bipin was taken hostage. Since then, his family has received only one confirmed visual: a photograph released by Hamas in September 2025 showing 48 remaining hostages—including Bipin—with a chilling message: “Say farewell.”
Notably, his name was absent from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent U.N. list of 20 confirmed living hostages—raising fears he may be among the roughly 25 hostages whose bodies are believed to still be held.
Nepal’s Political Upheaval Derails Diplomatic Efforts
Just as global attention turned toward potential cease-fire deals, Nepal experienced a violent anti-corruption uprising in September 2025 that toppled the government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs—tasked with negotiating Bipin’s release—is now operating out of three small rooms, with leadership in flux.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct 7, 2023 | Bipin Joshi abducted from Kibbutz Alumim during Hamas attack |
| Aug 2024 | Mother and sister travel to Israel; meet President Herzog |
| Sep 2025 | Nepal’s government collapses amid mass protests |
| Sep 2025 | Hamas releases photo of 48 hostages, including Bipin |
| Oct 2025 | Family appeals at U.N. General Assembly in New York |
Family’s Relentless Advocacy
- Repeated 24-hour trips from rural Nepal to Kathmandu to lobby officials
- Direct appeals to Qatar and other Arab mediators
- Public demonstrations in Israel and at the United Nations
- Sister Pushpa Joshi teaching herself English to speak globally for her brother
“He has no side in this war. He is an innocent foreign student,” said Padma Joshi, Bipin’s mother. “Our humble request to Hamas is to let him go, my son.”
Despite the chaos at home, activists like 18-year-old Shaswot Lamichhane are pushing Nepal’s interim government not to forget Bipin. “It’s a paralyzed ministry right now,” he said, “but we can’t let his case vanish.”
For more on global hostage crises, see our [INTERNAL_LINK:International] coverage.
