Body of Thai hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak returned for burial after 789 days
The agricultural worker was murdered by terrorists on 7 October 2023; one further slain hostage, Ran Gvili, remains in Gaza
The body of slain hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak was returned to Israel on Thursday evening after being recovered in the Gaza Strip the previous day.
Islamic Jihad and Hamas handed over his remains to the Red Cross, who then brought it to the IDF, with confirmation subsequently coming of the body’s identity.
An agricultural worker from north-eastern Thailand who arrived in Israel in 2017 as part of a foreign worker employment programme, 42-year old Sudthisak was visiting a friend near the orchards of Kibbutz Be’eri when Hamas terrorists attacked on 7 October 2023.
Murdered and abducted to Gaza, Sudthisak was one of 31 Thai nationals taken hostage that day; another 39 were slaughtered.
He is survived by his parents, Thong Ma and Orn, and his siblings.
In a statement on Thursday, the office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “The Israeli government shares in the deep sorrow of the Rinthalak family and of all the families of the fallen hostages.”
Israel’s hostage coordinator, Gal Hirsch, has informed Rinthalak’s family that arrangements for the repatriation of his remains to Thailand will be coordinated with the Thai embassy in Israel.
Rinthalak’s family and Thai Ambassador to Israel Boonyarit Vichienpuntu conveyed “their thanks and deep recognition to Israel for the efforts to return Sudthisak and the constant support for the family since the war broke out”.
In his own statement, President Isaac Herzog sent condolences: “For 789 painful days, Sudthisak was held hostage in Gaza. His family back in Thailand have waited in agony for his return. Now, Sudthisak can finally be laid to rest with dignity.”
Herzog added: “On behalf of the people of Israel, I send my deepest condolences to King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand, Sudthisak Rinthalak’s family, and the entire Thai people. I also express my appreciation for the Thai community in Israel, who continue to contribute so much to our country.”
The body of one murdered hostage remains in Gaza: police officer Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, who was killed and abducted while fighting Hamas terrorists in the border community of Alumim on the morning of 7 October 2023.
The Prime Minister’s Office added that Israel is “determined, committed and working tirelessly” to bring him back for burial, adding that Hamas is “required to fulfill its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the implementation of the agreement.”
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