In a significant development within the ongoing ceasefire agreement, militants in Gaza have returned the remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak, a 42-year-old Thai agricultural worker, to Israeli authorities. This transfer, confirmed by both Israeli and Thai officials on Thursday, marks a pivotal step in the hostage repatriation process, leaving only one Israeli hostage’s remains yet to be returned under the current deal.
Rinthalak was employed at Kibbutz Be’eri, a community devastated during the Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israeli officials stated he was killed during the initial attack, and his body was subsequently taken by the militant group Islamic Jihad. He was officially declared dead on May 16, 2024. His remains were handed over on Wednesday, following a previous transfer where the remains did not match the last two hostages.
The Thai Foreign Ministry, through spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura, confirmed that Rinthalak’s family has been notified. The ministry extended gratitude to the Israeli government for its assistance, which has now led to the resolution of all 31 Thai nationals taken hostage at the war’s outset. The fate of these individuals is now clear: 28 were returned alive, while three, including Rinthalak, were confirmed deceased. Tragically, beyond the hostages, the Thai Foreign Ministry also reports that 46 Thai citizens have been killed during the conflict, highlighting the severe impact on foreign workers in the region.
The sole remaining hostage whose remains are outstanding is identified as Israeli police officer Ran Gvili. Officials noted that Gvili heroically assisted in evacuations during the Nova music festival attack before being killed in a subsequent engagement.
Since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire commenced on October 10, a total of 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others have been repatriated to Israel. In a reciprocal measure, Israel has released the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians back to Gaza, though many remain unidentified. This exchange is a cornerstone of the ceasefire’s first phase, a agreement that both sides have accused the other of violating. The broader context of the war, ignited by the October 7th attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and saw over 250 taken hostage, continues to cast a long shadow. While nearly all hostages or their remains have been returned through various deals, the human cost is staggering. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, whose data is generally considered reliable by international observers, reports the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 70,100, a number that continues to climb due to ongoing Israeli strikes in response to alleged truce violations and the recovery of victims from earlier stages of the conflict.