Kathmandu, Oct 20 (NationPress) The remains of Nepali youth Bipin Joshi, who tragically lost his life while in the clutches of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, were brought back to Kathmandu on Monday.

Joshi, a Nepali student participating in the “Learn and Earn” program sponsored by the Israeli government, was working at the Alumim kibbutz when Hamas launched an offensive against Israel on October 7, 2023.

Amid the brutal assaults by Hamas, 10 other Nepali citizens also died, but Joshi's fate remained uncertain until October 14, when Israel confirmed his passing after Hamas transferred his body to Israeli authorities in a peace agreement.

The mortal remains of Joshi were received at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Monday afternoon, as reported by Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prime Minister Sushila Karki, along with various ministers, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass, and Joshi’s family members were present to honor him.

During a condolence ceremony held at the airport, Prime Minister Karki, who also serves as Foreign Minister, paid her respects to the late Joshi, praying for the eternal peace of his soul and expressing her heartfelt condolences to his grieving family, as stated by the ministry.

Other dignitaries present at the ceremony also offered their sympathies.

The ministry indicated that arrangements are underway to transport Joshi’s body by air to Dhangadhi Airport in far-western Nepal, from where it will be taken to his residence in Kanchanpur.

Joshi’s body was returned to Nepal with the coordination of the Embassy of Nepal in Israel and support from the Israeli government.

Following the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, there was a fleeting sense of hope regarding Joshi’s survival when his family released a video on October 9, provided by the Israel Defence Forces. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed when Hamas provided a list of surviving captives, and Joshi’s name was notably absent.

In the past two years, senior Nepali officials and ambassadors had tirelessly advocated for Joshi’s release from Hamas captivity, reaching out to high-ranking government officials in Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, the United States, and other nations, seeking their assistance for his safe return.

Joshi’s mother, Padma, and sister, Pushpa, also traveled to Israel to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and other senior officials, imploring them to aid in securing his freedom.