Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, released the names of four deceased hostages on Monday, October 13. The four deceased were identified as Bipin Joshi, Guy Illouz, Yossi Sharabi, and Daniel Peretz. Reports claim that Bipin Joshi was the only Hindu hostage captured by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attacks.
According to Israeli authorities, a total of 26 hostages have been formally declared dead based on forensic and intelligence assessments.
Who Was Bipin Joshi?
Bipin Joshi was a 22-year-old agriculture student from Nepal. He had been working at a kibbutz in Alumim, near the Gaza border, when he was kidnapped during the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023.
Joshi was the only Hindu hostage, and his body being transported to Tel Aviv after being handed over by Hamas to Israeli authorities.
Joshi had arrived in Israel just a month before the attack as part of a student exchange program to study and work in agriculture. Out of the 17 Nepali students participating in the program, 10 were killed during the attack.
Reports from PTI stated that Joshi was able to throw several live grenades out of the bomb shelter where they were hiding before he was injured and taken hostage. His exact time of death remains unclear.
Family’s Efforts to Bring Him Home
Bipin’s younger sister, Pushpa Joshi, 17, had been campaigning for his release for months. She often traveled eight hours each way from her home in western Nepal to Kathmandu to lobby officials and attend meetings about her brother’s case.
In August 2024, Joshi’s family traveled to Israel to meet with President Isaac Herzog. They also joined families of other hostages at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, calling for action to bring their loved ones home.
Last week, Joshi’s family released a video of him in captivity, filmed under duress, believed to be recorded around November 2023. The footage was one of the last known proofs of life before Hamas confirmed his death.
Hamas Releases 20 Hostages Under Ceasefire Deal
On the same day (October 13), Hamas released 20 living hostages as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal brokered with international mediation. The Red Cross received custody of the hostages and handed them over to Israeli authorities.
Under the terms of the deal, Hamas is also expected to return the bodies of the deceased hostages.
Those released include:
Gali Berman & Ziv Berman (28), Omri Miran (48), Matan Angrest (22), Eitan Mor (25), Alon Ohel (24), Guy Gilboa-Dalal (24), Elkana Bohbot (36), Rom Braslavski (21), Nimrod Cohen (21), Ariel Cunio (28), David Cunio (35), Evyatar David (24), Maksym Harkin (37), Eitan Horn (38), Segev Kalfon (27), Bar Kupershtein (23), Yosef-Chaim Ohana (25), Avinatan Or (32), and Matan Zangauker (25).
The hostage exchange is part of a broader peace initiative aimed at ending months of conflict in the region.
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