In a harrowing account of bravery and sacrifice, Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary has shared the final moments of his friend, Bipin Joshi, a fellow Nepalese student who lost his life after confronting Hamas attackers. According to Chaudhary, Joshi’s courageous act of throwing back a grenade potentially saved multiple lives during the assault on Kibbutz Alumim two years ago.
“I may not have survived if both grenades had exploded. Bipin showed courage and threw the grenade out,” Chaudhary recounted to BBC Nepali, speaking of the incident that took place shortly after the Nepalese students arrived in Israel as part of an exchange program. “If both grenades had exploded, I would not have been speaking with you like this.”
Joshi, aged 23, was working on a kibbutz when Hamas militants attacked on October 7, 2023. He was among the estimated 250 people taken hostage. Ten Nepalese students were killed in the attack, with Joshi being the only one captured. His family and friends held onto hope for his safe return until the ceasefire deadline passed without him being released.
Chaudhary, who sustained injuries in the attack, remembers Bipin as a spirited individual with dreams of a better future. “He loved playing football and basketball. We would chat for hours about our goals and dreams,” he shared, his voice filled with grief. “He wanted to get his body in good shape and to buy a new mobile phone. We even recorded a song about friendship with my phone. He also talked about showcasing himself in a music video.”
The Israeli military recently identified Joshi’s body as one of four returned by Hamas as part of a ceasefire agreement. While the exact circumstances of his death remain unconfirmed, his friend’s account paints a vivid picture of his final act of bravery.
Chaudhary, who has since returned to Nepal and is continuing his studies, expressed deep sorrow over Joshi’s death and stated that he and other surviving colleagues plan to visit Joshi’s family to offer support. “We will keep his memories alive. We will provide our care, support and consolation to his family.” He added, “I returned to Nepal and I am studying at the moment. But Bipin’s dreams remained unfulfilled.”
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