The body of China's ambassador to Israel, who died earlier this week, was handed to Chinese authorities in a ceremony at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport on Wednesday.
Soldiers from Israel's military police, wearing surgical masks, white peak hats and armbands over their olive-green uniforms carried the ambassador's wooden coffin, covered by the red and yellow Chinese flag. The coffin was placed on a black altar surrounded by white wreaths of flowers ahead of the body's repatriation to China.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Ambassador Du Wei, 58, was found dead at his home in Herzliya, in central Israel, on Sunday. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that "health reasons" were the presumed cause of Wei's death.
The Israel Police's initial assessment was that he had suffered cardiac arrest during the night.
China walked back the decision to send a delegation to Israel to probe the death of Wei, Mako reported Monday.
In a message posted on the Chinese Embassy in Israel on March 3, Wei wrote "The friendly exchanges between Chinese and Jewish peoples date back to one thousand years ago. Our two peoples admired and supported each other, leaving us with numerous touching stories."
"We have a lot to offer each other, and we have much to achieve through our cooperation," he added.
This article was originally published by i24NEWS
