Israeli authorities confirmed on Thursday that the remains recovered from Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip belong to Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, who was murdered during the October 7, 2023, attacks. His body had been held in captivity by the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization since the tragic incident.
Arrangements are being made for Rinthalak’s remains to be returned to Thailand for burial, in coordination with the Thai Embassy in Israel. In a statement, the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed condolences, stating, “The Israeli government shares the deep sorrow of the Rinthalak family, the Thai people, and all the families of the slain abductees.”
The statement further emphasized that the Israeli government and security forces are dedicated to securing the return of Israel Police counterterror officer Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, who remains the last hostage in Gaza. The Prime Minister’s office reiterated that “the Hamas terrorist organization is required to fulfill its obligations to the mediators and return him as part of the ceasefire agreement’s implementation.”
According to reports from the IDF, Rinthalak was abducted from the orchards of Kibbutz Be’eri during the attacks. He was 42 years old at the time of his death, which was officially confirmed on May 16, 2024. Rinthalak is survived by his parents and a brother.
The IDF extended its condolences to the families of those affected, stating it continues to make every effort to secure the return of the remaining deceased hostages and is prepared to uphold the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
As the situation evolves, the focus remains on resolving the hostage crisis and ensuring the safe return of all individuals affected by the ongoing conflict.