KATHMANDU:- The Embassy of Nepal in Israel has started the process of repatriating the body of Bipin Joshi to Nepal. It is working in close contact and coordination with the relevant authorities there, informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Tuesday.
The repatriation process has begun following Israel’s National Centre of Forensic Medicine further confirmed that the remains received were of Bipin’s. The MoFA updated in a statement that following the handover of Bipin’s body to Israel by Hamas via the Red Cross on Monday, representative from the embassy visited the Centre on Tuesday.
The Embassy has been instructed to coordinate closely with the Israeli authorities and to make all necessary arrangements for repatriation of the dead body.
Earlier on the same day, Israel said that it would make all necessary arrangements for the repatriation of Bipin’s remains to Nepal.
In a telephone conversation with Nepal’s Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai on Tuesday, Israel’s Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eden Bar Tal said that Israel government would make arrangements to send Joshi’s remains to Nepal.
“During the conversation, Bar Tal officially confirmed, with deep regret, the tragic death of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student, while in captivity of Hamas,” the MoFA informed in another statement.
Foreign Secretary Rai expressed sincere appreciation to the government and people of Israel for their continued efforts, up to the last moment, to ensure the safety of hostages.
Both sides expressed hope that the positive developments seen in the first phase of the Middle East Peace Plan would pave the way for successful implementation of subsequent phases, contributing to lasting peace and stability in the region, read the statement.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to working together to further strengthen the friendly relations between Nepal and Israel.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) informed in X that its representatives informed the family of Bipin Joshi and other deceased hostages that their remains have been brought back for cremation.
“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,” said the IDF.
Bipin was taken hostage by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas on 7 October 2023, the day when it killed about 1,200 people including 10 Nepali students who had reached Israel with Bipin. At least 251 people from more than 40 countries were taken hostage.
The MoFA also said that even after Bipin’s body has been brought to Nepal, appropriate initiatives will continue to be taken, in cooperation and coordination with the concerned government and stakeholders, to ascertain the true cause and circumstances of his death, to secure justice, and to ensure his family receives the social security, compensation, insurance, and other benefits to which they are entitled.