The Israel Defense Forces has said Nepali youth Bipin Joshi was murdered in captivity during the first months of the Gaza war that began in October 2023.

“Bipin was abducted at the age of 23 from a shelter in Kibbutz Alumim by Hamas. It is assessed that he was murdered in captivity during the first months of the war,” the IDF, the national military of Israel, said in a statement posted on X on Tuesday. “Final conclusions will be determined after the completion of the examination of the circumstances of death by the National Center of Forensic Medicine.”

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, the IDF said.

Citing the information and intelligence it received, the IDF said Guy was abducted alive and injured by Hamas after escaping the Nova music festival. “Guy died from his wounds after not receiving proper medical treatment while held captive,” it claimed. “He was 26 years old at his death.”

A student under Israel’s Learn and Earn Programme, Joshi was working at the Alumim kibbutz with 16 other Nepalis when Hamas launched its assault in October 2023. Ten Nepalis were killed, five were injured, and one escaped unharmed in the attack.

Joshi’s whereabouts were unknown since then.

His name was missing from the list of 20 living hostages freed earlier under a US-brokered ceasefire deal. His death was confirmed by Israeli officials, who briefed Ambassador Pandit and Joshi’s family in a virtual meeting on Monday.

Successive governments had pursued all possible diplomatic channels to secure Joshi’s release, engaging with officials from Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and the US.

Joshi’s family, who had travelled to Israel and the US seeking his release, are now awaiting the return of his body to Nepal.