Process begins to repatriate Bipin's dead body to Nepal: MoFA

Kathmandu, Oct 14: The process to bring the dead body of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student held hostage by the Palestine group Hamas, has been initiated, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).     

MoFA issued a press statement on Tuesday and informed about the process begun to bring the dead body of Joshi to Nepal.     

The representative of the Nepali Embassy in Israel visited the National Centre for Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv and further ascertained the identity of Joshi's body, reported the Ministry.     

Joshi was reportedly abducted by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023 from Kibbutz Alumim, an agricultural community in southern Israel. He had travelled to Israel under the "Learn and Earn" agricultural training programme.     

The Nepali Embassy in Israel, based on an official communication from Israeli authorities, has already confirmed Joshi's demise.     

The Ministry in the statement further mentioned that once the body is brought back to Nepal, the Ministry will continue taking initiatives to uncover the true cause and circumstances of his death in coordination and cooperation with the concerned government and the stakeholders.     

Furthermore, efforts will continue to ensure justice and to secure social security, compensation, insurance and other facilities for the deceased family, pledged the Ministry.     

Earlier on Tuesday, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai had a telephone conversation with Eden Bar Tal, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Israel during which the Israeli side officially informed about Bipin Joshi's death, added the MoFA.     

Director General Tal also extended his heartfelt tribute to the late Joshi and offered deep condolences to the bereaved family, the government of Nepal and grief-stricken Nepali people.     

The statement also mentioned that following the ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas group on October 13, 2025-after two years of conflict- Hamas had handed over Joshi's lifeless body to Israel through Red Cross yesterday.     

In the wake of ceasefire, the Israeli army had held a virtual meeting attended by Nepali Ambassador to Israel, Joshi's family, officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of Prime Minister in Israel and informed that Joshi's name was not included among those to be released by Hamas and his status remained unknown at that time.     

Meanwhile, the MoFA expressed its grief on the demise of Joshi while in Hamas captivity and paid tribute to the deceased. It also extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.(RSS)