Nepali youth Bipin Joshi, who was abducted by Hamas militants 738 days ago from Israel, has been confirmed dead.

While many had believed he was alive, and some media had reported Joshi’s status as unknown, his name was not on the list when Hamas handed over the captives on Monday.

Media reports including Al Jazeera and BBC, quoting the Qassam Brigades, reported that the group would hand over bodies of four captives later in the day.

The Qassam Brigades is the military wing of Hamas.

A statement released by Hamas’s armed wing identified the deceased captives as Guy Ilouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bipin Joshi and Daniel Perez, adding that the bodies would be handed over later on Monday.

Earlier, Hamas had released all 20 remaining living captives held in Gaza.

Nepali ambassador Dhana Prasad Pandit told the Post that an honorary consul representing Nepal in Israel, Nadav Ben Yahudain informed him that Hamas is likely to hand over Joshi’s body later on Monday.

“First they will handover the dead bodies to Israeli authorities—whereupon the bodies will undergo DNA tests. After confirmation, the bodies will be returned to the families of the deceased,” Pandit said, adding that Red Cross representatives were reportedly on their way to receive the bodies of the four hostages.

Nepali student Joshi, who went to Israel under the Learn and Earn Programme, was working at the Alumim kibbutz with 16 other Nepalis when Hamas attacked on October 7, 2023.

Earlier on Monday, Israeli authorities informed Nepali officials that Joshi was not among the survivors.

Israeli officials, including those from the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), had briefed Nepali Ambassador to Israel Dhana Prasad Pandit, Joshi’s sister Pushpa, and relative Kishor Joshi during a video conference at 7:30am Israeli time.

Earlier on Monday, Pandit told the Post that Joshi’s name was not on the list of those confirmed alive, adding that efforts to locate him—or his body—would continue.

“IDF officials said they would also inform us how Joshi was killed,” Pandit added.

“International organisations are also engaged in this matter.”

Searching for Bipin, his mother Padma Joshi and sister Pushpa had visited Israel and held talks with senior officials. They are currently in the US in the hope of securing his release and getting information on his whereabouts.

Earlier on Monday, Hamas released the names of 20 hostages to be freed under the latest US-brokered ceasefire deal, but Joshi’s name was not included.

Ten Nepalis were killed, five were injured, and one escaped unharmed in the 2023 attack. Joshi and a Thai national were taken hostage.

A team of six international experts was involved in the search for the dead bodies inside Gaza’s tunnels, which are about 400 miles long, said Pandit.

“As part of the first phase of the proposed ‘Middle East Peace Plan’ aimed at ending the conflict that began on October 7, 2023, prisoner exchanges are taking place today [Monday],” said Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. “It was expected that Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student participating in Israel’s Learn and Earn programme and held captive by Hamas since the mentioned date, would also be included in the list of hostages to be released by Hamas.”

“In this regard, it is well known that over the past two years, the government of Nepal has made every possible effort at various levels for his safe release,” said the ministry. “This morning at 7:30 am local Israeli time, the IDF organised a virtual meeting involving the Nepali Ambassador to Israel, Bipin Joshi’s elder brother, mother, and sister, as well as officials from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office. During the meeting, it was confirmed that Bipin Joshi’s name was not included in the list of hostages to be released today, and that his condition remains unknown,” said the ministry.

“Until the process of releasing all living hostages and handing over the bodies of deceased hostages held by Hamas is completed, the ministry will continue to provide regular updates on this matter,” said the statement.

Top Nepali officials and Nepali ambassadors had lobbied for Joshi’s release over the past two years. Officials had reached out to top government officials of Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, US among others and had requested them to ensure Joshi’s safe release.

On October 9, Bipin’s family released a video handed to them by Israeli intelligence officials, which was recorded soon after he was abducted. In the video, Bipin identified himself and spoke about the purpose of his visit to Israel. His family said that the video renewed their belief that Bipin is still alive.

In this context, Bipin’s mother Padma and sister Pushpa also visited Israel and met with the President of Israel and the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament. During their visit, his mother and sister held discussions with President Isaac Herzog and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. In the meeting, Padma requested President Herzog to take immediate steps for Bipin’s release.

About a month after he was taken hostage, Bipin was seen in a 33-second video from Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip, which turned out to be his last known appearance. Israeli officials on Monday confirmed that he is no longer alive.

(Additional reporting by Bhawani Bhatta from Kanchanpur)