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Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

Bipin Joshi threw back a grenade from militant forces before being taken hostage in the attack on Israel two years ago, says the fellow Nepalese student he protected.

"I may not have endured if the two grenades had detonated. He showed bravery and threw the grenade out," the survivor disclosed to news sources.

He was speaking after the defense forces identified his companion's body as being among four dead captives returned by Hamas under the Gaza ceasefire accord.

The young student was twenty-three and employed on a kibbutz when he was seized by Hamas into captivity along with numerous individuals on 7 October 2023. It remains unknown how or when he passed away.

The student's loved ones hoped right up to the release deadline that he could be among living hostages returned on 13 October, but he was not, and a day later their worst fears were confirmed.

Assault Details

Bipin, Dhan Bahadur and fifteen other Nepalese farming students had been in Israel for just over a short period when their residence was assaulted.

"The students knew that there may be a conflict in Israel. But we had little expectation that there could be any ground attack of that scale," the survivor said. "We thought that there could be aerial strikes and we would be protected if we remained underground, in the shelters."

For the students who'd been invited under the national "educational initiative" it was a significant chance to make better lives for their futures and their families in Nepal.

Dhan Bahadur attributes his survival to Bipin's heroic actions.

"At the time of the assault, multiple explosives were launched near the bunkers. He [Bipin] grabbed a device and threw it outside; another detonated inside. Due to that blast, I and four others were wounded," he says.

"Bipin was unharmed at that point. If both grenades had detonated, I certainly would not have been talking with you today."

10 of the Nepalese students were lost in the attack. Their companion was the sole person taken hostage.

"The friends saw each other for the last time when he and fellow students were being moved to a different shelter," Dhan Bahadur says. "Since, after the wounding, was immobile and remained stayed in the initial shelter. I came to know that there were multiple assaults in the shelter where Bipin took shelter and he was taken prisoner from that location."

Courtesy Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

Personal Memories

The 27-year-old states he experiences profound grief after hearing about his friend's death. He and Bipin were classmates in Far Western University School of Agriculture in their hometown, Nepal.

"We undertook every attempts from our sides to secure his freedom. We attempted everything. But recently, we had to face such shocking information. All of Nepal is in grief. I cannot comprehend what to say. Truly have limited expression to explain my sorrow."

The survivor explains his friend and fellow students had the same goal of making little earnings and establishing their own business after returning from the exchange programme in Israel.

"Bipin loved playing soccer and basketball. The friends would chat for hours about our goals and aspirations. He desired to achieve his physique in excellent condition and to purchase a latest mobile phone. We even recorded a musical piece about friendship with a device. He also talked about showcasing himself in a visual production."

Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary

Aftermath

On the specified date, the Israeli military said they believed Bipin Joshi was "killed in captivity during the first months of the conflict". There's no method of externally verifying that.

But should this be the situation, Dhan Bahadur commented, the global authorities should ask Hamas about the reasons it occurred.

The survivor mentioned he had lacked any support from Nepal's government following his wounding but wished the host nation would assist Bipin's relatives.

The student's immediate family members have withheld any comment so far.

Footage from the attack date showed him walking inside a medical facility in Gaza City. His family received no signs of life for a year, until the Israeli military released a recording of him in captivity around November 2023.

Relatives described the material as "proof of life" just hours before the ceasefire deal was agreed, and were hoping for a miracle.

Now in his hometown of Bhimdutta municipality the student's family are mourning after hearing information of his death.

Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Family Situation

His mother and sister had gone to the US to advocate for the freedom of captives, Bipin's relative family member told media.

He states the family has no words to describe the sorrow. "His mother and sister are coming back from America on the specified day. The parent is not in the condition to express the suffering in words."

Meanwhile it remains uncertain when the student's remains will be repatriated to his family.

Israel is making required preparations to return his remains to Nepal, as it completed for the remaining individuals who died, Nepal's ministry of foreign affairs announced.

"The authorities are completely stunned by the information of Bipin Joshi's demise. In this period of grief [we] extend our {deep|pro