Thai hostage killed in 2023 attack finally returned to family in Israel

Following a thorough identification process conducted by the National Centre for Forensic Medicine in coordination with the Israeli police and military rabbinate, representatives from the Israel Defence Forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified the family of Thai citizen Sudthisak Rinthalak that his coffin had been delivered from Gaza to Israel.

According to Israeli media, 42-year-old Rinthalak was killed by terrorists on October 7, 2023, in the orchards of Kibbutz Be’eri. His body was taken to Gaza and held by Islamic Jihad militants. He was officially declared dead on May 16, 2024, after authorities obtained compelling evidence of his death. Rinthalak is survived by his parents and brother.

Israel is currently awaiting the return of the remains of one additional deceased hostage from Gaza: Ran Gvili, a YASAM special forces sergeant who was killed while repelling a militant attack in Alumim.

These developments fall under the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, which took effect on October 10. Under this arrangement, Hamas committed to returning 20 living Israeli hostages and the bodies of 28 deceased Israeli and foreign hostages within 72 hours.

All living hostages were released on October 13 in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.

To date, Israel has received the remains of 23 deceased Israeli hostages, along with three foreign hostages — one Thai, one Nepalese, and one Tanzanian. In return, Israel has returned the bodies of 330 Palestinians killed during the conflict.

Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately delaying the handover of the hostages’ remains, while Hamas claims it is struggling to locate them under the rubble.

The slow pace of this process has delayed the second phase of former US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan, which envisions new governance arrangements in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, Hamas disarmament, and reconstruction initiatives.

Hamas and its allies abducted 251 people on October 7, 2023, in an attack that killed approximately 1,200 others. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, which the Hamas-run health ministry reports has resulted in more than 70,117 deaths.

By Tamilla Hasanova