The Israeli army says the remains of the second-to-last Gaza hostage, a Thai national, have been identified and returned to his family. The deceased, Sudthisak Rinthalak, was killed during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Rinthalak, 42, worked in agriculture and was taken to the Gaza Strip after his death. His body was held by Hamas until the identification process was completed.
The Israeli army says IDF representatives, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed the family about the return of the body for burial. The process follows a ceasefire deal brokered by Washington, which also included the release of living hostages.
Under the agreement, Palestinian militants handed over the last 20 living hostages. So far, the remains of 27 out of 28 deceased hostages have been returned. Only one remaining deceased hostage, an Israeli national, is yet to be handed over.
In exchange, Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians who died during the conflict. The October 7 attack by Hamas involved 251 hostages and sparked a war that killed 1,221 people.
The Israeli army says the ongoing hostilities in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 70,117 people, according to Gaza health ministry data verified by the United Nations. The conflict remains one of the deadliest in the region in recent years.
Families of the hostages and deceased victims have awaited these returns for months. The process highlights the humanitarian aspects of the ceasefire agreement, even as tensions and security concerns continue in Gaza and Israel.
Officials emphasize that completing the return of all deceased hostages is a priority. The handover of Sudthisak Rinthalak’s remains marks a significant step in fulfilling the commitments of the ceasefire deal and providing closure to affected families.
In other news read more about: Israel Begins Release of 110 Palestinian Prisoners After Delay
