Nepal holds candlelight vigil for Bipin Joshi, student killed in Hamas custody

Kathmandu on October 15, 2025, witnessed a candlelight vigil for Bipin Joshi, a student who was killed while in Hamas custody following his abduction in October 2023, reports 24brussels.

Dozens of youths gathered at the Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu to pay tribute to Joshi, who had been in Israel under the “Learn and Earn” scheme and was abducted by the militant group on October 7, 2023. “It is for Bipin Joshi. He actually lost his life two years back, but we came to know it recently following the formal announcement. For two years, we lived with the hope that Bipin Joshi would return. Though he won’t be here physically, he will always be remembered,” said Rakshya Bam, a participant in the vigil.

Israeli authorities confirmed Joshi’s death on October 14 following the handover of the remains of those who died in Hamas captivity. Nepali Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai had a telephonic conversation with Eden Bar Tal, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, who expressed condolences on behalf of the Israeli government to Joshi’s family and the Nepali government.

Hamas handed over Joshi’s body to Israel on Monday through the Red Cross. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated that Joshi, abducted at the age of 23 from a shelter in Kibbutz Alumim, was murdered in captivity during the initial months of the Gaza war that commenced in October 2023.

🟡 IDF representatives informed the families of Guy Iluz, Bipin Joshi, and two additional deceased hostages, whose names have not yet been cleared for publication by their families, that their loved ones have been brought back for burial.

According to the information and… pic.twitter.com/sL7HpkiN5l

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 14, 2025

As a participant in Israel’s Learn and Earn Programme, Joshi was employed at the Alumim kibbutz alongside 16 other Nepalis when Hamas initiated its assault. During this attack, ten Nepalis were killed, five were injured, and one escaped unharmed. Joshi’s whereabouts remained unknown until his demise was confirmed.

His name was absent from the list of 20 hostages released earlier under a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. Israeli officials briefed Ambassador Pandit and Joshi’s family in a virtual meeting on Monday about his death. Successive Nepali governments had worked through all possible diplomatic channels to secure Joshi’s release, collaborating with officials from Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and the United States. Joshi’s family, who had traveled to Israel and the US in attempts to secure his release, are now awaiting the return of his body to Nepal.