KATHMANDU: The process to repatriate the body of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali student killed in a Hamas attack, has begun.

According to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai held a telephone conversation with Israel’s Foreign Ministry Director General, Eden Bar Tal, on Tuesday.

During the talks, Tal confirmed that Joshi, who had been held by Hamas, had died and that his body had been identified.

He also informed that the process of sending his body back to Nepal has already started.

The Ministry further stated that Hamas handed over Joshi’s body to Israeli authorities through the Red Cross on October 13.

The body was then taken to Tel Aviv for forensic identification, where it was officially confirmed to be that of Joshi.

The Embassy of Nepal in Israel also confirmed the handover and identification process, coordinating with Israeli officials and the International Committee of the Red Cross to ensure the repatriation proceeds smoothly.

Joshi, a Nepali student studying in Israel under the “Learn and Earn” program, was killed in the Hamas assault that began on October 7, 2023.

Several other Nepali students were also affected by the attack, prompting government-level coordination for their rescue and repatriation.