The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have formally announced that Bipin Joshi is no longer alive.
Nepali Ambassador to Israel Dhan Prasad Pandit has stated that the Israeli government gave this information a short while ago by holding a video conference with Joshi's family and the Nepali Embassy in Israel.
"The IDF held a video conversation with us and Joshi's family and informed us, 'He is no more'," Ambassador Pandit has told Setopati. "The IDF gave this information in front of the family itself."
According to Ambassador Pandit, IDF officials also informed that Hamas will release the hostages who are live shortly. The bodies of some of the deceased have not been found.
During the video conversation, Joshi's mother Padma, and sister, Pushpa joined from America. Family member Kishore Joshi, Ambassador Pandit, and IDF officials participated in the video conversation.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has stated that the IDF's announcement might only be an assessment.
"It is only an assessment by the IDF. The situation is not clear yet at this point to say, 'This person or that person [is dead]'. In the past, different information has also emerged regarding people mentioned by the IDF," Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lok Bahadur Paudel Chhetri has pointed. "Until the very last moment, we remain enthusiastic and hopeful that he will be released safely."
Bipin Joshi was abducted by Hamas following its terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Joshi had gone to Israel from Far Western University to pursue agricultural studies under the Israel government’s “Learn and Earn” program.
