The family of Bipin Joshi, a young Nepali Hindu student kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has released a video that had been hidden for months.

The short clip, which was in possession of Israeli intelligence, was finally made public on Wednesday, October 8, after the government lifted its ban on releasing it.

For Bipin’s family, this rare video is the first proof in two years that he could still be alive. “The sign of life found in Gaza, which we share with you today, is for us an anchor of firm faith that he is alive,” the Joshi family said in a heartfelt statement.
They described the video as a light of hope that has kept them strong in their long and painful wait.

Bipin Joshi — The Only Hindu Among the Captives in Gaza

When Bipin Joshi, aged 23, was abducted, he had been in Israel for just three weeks. He remains the only Hindu taken hostage by Hamas and held in Gaza.
He was part of a group of Nepali agricultural students who arrived under Israel’s “Learn and Earn” program, designed to teach modern farming techniques. The students worked in a citrus and lemon farm at Kibbutz Alumim, near the Gaza border.

On that tragic morning, when Hamas militants stormed the kibbutz, Bipin and his friends were trapped. Ten of his classmates were brutally murdered, and Bipin was dragged away by the attackers. Before being kidnapped, he sent his last messages to his cousin in English. One of them read:
“If something happens to me, you have to take care of my family. Be strong and always look toward the future.”
This line, reported by The Times of Israel, stands as his last known words before vanishing.

Two Years Later — The Long-Delayed Video Emerges

The released clip, believed to have been recorded in November 2023, shows Bipin calmly introducing himself before the camera.
“My name is Bipin Joshi. I’m from Nepal. I’m 23 years old. I came to Israel 25 days ago for the ‘Learn and Earn’ program. I’m a student and I work on a citrus and lemon farm.”

At the end of the video, Bipin glances slightly off-camera, as if looking at someone nearby. The surroundings are hidden, but the clip clearly shows he was alive weeks after his capture.

For his family, that small glimpse means everything. “When I saw the video, my mother and father were next to me. First, I thanked God that I didn’t see any injuries on his face or body. Then, my body started shaking, and I couldn’t control my tears,” said Pushpa, Bipin’s 17-year-old sister, while speaking to reporters in Israel.

She explained that the family had received the video nearly a year earlier, but it was blocked by Israeli government censorship. They decided to release it now, hoping it would intensify global pressure for Bipin’s release and push negotiators to act on behalf of all remaining hostages.

Family’s Ongoing Plea for His Freedom

Despite the pain, Bipin’s family refuses to lose hope. His parents and sister, originally from Nepal, are currently staying with relatives in North Carolina, USA, moving between Washington D.C. and New York to meet diplomats and appeal for international support.

“We decided to release the video to show that he is in Gaza and alive, and maybe it can create a little bit of pressure on the negotiating teams to understand our pain,” Pushpa said.
“It’s been two years, it’s too much pain for us and the other hostages’ families.”

She has extended her stay in the United States, expressing her wish to meet President Donald Trump personally. “We are here with hopeful hearts, and we want to meet President Trump and advocate for Bipin’s safe release,” she said. “President Trump gave an ultimatum to Hamas and Israel to negotiate, so we are very thankful for that. We are totally dependent on him and really hope his steps will give us our Bipin back.”

Why the Video Was Hidden by Israeli Authorities

In their official statement, the Joshi family reminded the world that Bipin was not a soldier but a student — a young man who had no role in any conflict.
“Bipin was brutally abducted from Kibbutz Alumim while ten of his friends were murdered that same day. Young students, beautiful and innocent souls,” they said.

For two years, few could imagine Bipin trapped underground in Hamas tunnels, but the new video confirms their faith that he remains alive.
“This sign of life found in Gaza serves as confirmation of our steadfast belief that he is alive.”

Releasing the clip, however, was not an easy choice.
“For many months, this footage was under strict censorship. Only recently were we granted permission to release it. It is not easy for us to share it publicly, but we are in critical and historic days that will determine the fate of the 48 hostages — whether the living will return to their families and the deceased to a proper burial, or whether we will remain in pain without closure.”

Pushpa described her brother lovingly as a cheerful, creative young man with simple dreams. “My parents are devastated, barely holding on. They miss their only son. I miss my best friend, the one who dreamed of growing bananas to make banana chips. The creative and funny guy,” she told i24 News with tears in her eyes.