Kathmandu, Oct. 14
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.
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