Nepal Student Hostage in Gaza: Sister's Fight for Bipin Joshi

Amid the global campaigns for hostages held in Gaza, one name has gone largely unheard: Bipin Joshi, a 23-year-old student from Nepal who was kidnapped on October 7. Now, two women, an Israeli activist and his teenage sister, are determined to ensure the world does not forget him.

Joshi had just arrived in Israel to study agriculture, live and work in Kibbutz Alumim, hoping to bring knowledge back to Nepal to improve farming. But three weeks later, his life changed forever. A Hamas gunmen stormed the kibbutz, shooting his friends and hurling grenades into the shelter where he was hiding. Believing the end was near, Joshi sent his cousin a final message:

“If something happens to me, you have to take care of my family. Be strong and always look to the future.”

Instead of being killed, Joshi was dragged alive into Gaza, where he has remained in captivity for, until this moment, 682 days.

“Say his name”

For months, almost no one knew Joshi was among the hostages. That silence drove Israeli activist Adi Radai to step in.

“Every pair of ears that speak his name or share his story on social media, it’s already something,” she declared with hope.

Radai says she was struck by the lack of awareness surrounding Joshi, while other hostages had high-profile campaigns. Now she dedicates herself to amplifying his story.

A sister’s voice

Joshi’s younger sister, Pushpa, even being just a teenager, has become the family’s leading advocate. Despite a language barrier and the overwhelming challenges of navigating international attention, she has persisted.

“Five, six months ago, there was no one there to help us, and nobody knew who Bipin Joshi was,” she explained.

Radai often encourages her to stay strong: “You will have ups and downs, you will have moments that you will feel really good and moments that you will feel really bad.”

For her, advocacy is not only about politics but also memory:

“In the rainy season, I used to cook food for my brother, and I brought it to my brother and he complimented my food. So these are my favourite memories.”

A campaign for freedom

Both women stress that Joshi is more than a symbol.

“I want the world to know that Bipin is a person, an intelligent student. He is not a poster,” said Radai.

Together, they are marching, calling, and telling his story, urging for others to do the same.

“Say his name! Share his story! Don’t let the world forget about Bipin Joshi,” Radai pleaded.

Pushpa added: “Fight for him, and please don’t forget, please.”

Joshi is one of an estimated 50 hostages still held in Gaza. For his advocates, the mission is clear: the world must not forget, not his name, and not theirs.