Repatriating the mortal remains of 10 Nepalis killed in the Hamas attack on Kibbutz Alumim of war-torn Israel is going to take more time as the Israel government has to conclusively establish the identity of the dead and properly pack and seal their bodies before releasing them.

At least 10 Nepali students were killed on October 7 when Hamas militants entered into Israel and fired thousands of rounds of rockets and grenades at their residence. Four other Nepalis were injured in the attacks. One Nepali student, Bipin Joshi, from Kanchanpur, is still missing.

The task of identifying the bodies and managing them properly has proved challenging for Israeli authorities. Officials said they are busy wrapping and sealing the bodies and storing them in fridges in trucks. The bodies will then be sent for forensic examination.

The identity of at least 1,300 bodies that include those of foreign nationals is either yet to be established or confirmed, local media reports said, adding that the confirmation will come through tests of DNA, fingerprints and dental remains and that may take time.

Israel officially records the fingerprints of its citizens and foreign nationals. Josh Wander, spokesperson for the Israeli search and rescue agency ZAKA, said they are confirming the identity of the bodies with the support of security personnel.

Kanta Rizal, Nepali ambassador to Israel, said the embassy has been coordinating with Israeli agencies ever since they got the news of Nepali casualties and asked them to manage the bodies properly.

“We sent the copies of passports of the Nepalis immediately after their bodies were recovered from the incident sites,” she said.

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud had requested his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen to send back the bodies of Nepalis as soon as possible.

“Nepal’s foreign ministry has already been in touch with concerned agencies in Israel and those of us at the embassy are coordinating with local officials involved in the process,” Rizal told the Post.

The names of the Nepali victims are Narayan Prasad Neupane of Ghodaghodi-4 in Kailali, Ganesh Kumar Nepali of Jayprithvi-6 in Bajhang, Dipeshraj Bista of Lekam-5 in Darchula, Ananda Sah of Sapahi-6 in Dhanusha, Rajesh Kumar Swarnakar of Madhuban-1 in Sunsari, Rajan Phulara of Pachnali-3 in Doti, Padam Thapa of Lamikhal-8, Doti, Prabesh Bhandari of Sharada-3, Salyan and Lokendra Singh Dhami of Malikarjun-4, Darchula.

Three students injured in the attack—Bidhan Sejwal of Sharada-2, Prabin Dangi of Dangisharan-3, Dang, and Himanchal Kattel of Gorkha—are undergoing treatment. Meanwhile, Dhan Bahadur Chaudhary of Tikapur-9, who was also injured, has returned to Nepal.

Published on: 16 October 2023 | The Kathmandu Post