Rinthalak was killed during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks and his body was taken to the Gaza Strip, where it was held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. He worked in agriculture and was abducted from the orchards of Kibbutz Be’eri.
By JNS Staff
Israeli authorities on Thursday morning confirmed that the remains recovered from the Gaza Strip the previous evening belong to murdered Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, whose body had been held captive in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.
Authorities informed Rinthalak’s family that arrangements for returning his body to Thailand will be made in coordination with the Thai Embassy in Israel.
“The Israeli government shares the deep sorrow of the Rinthalak family, the Thai people and all the families of the slain abductees,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
Jerusalem and the entire Israeli security establishment are “determined, committed and working tirelessly” to bring home Israel Police counterterror officer Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza, the statement continued.
“The Hamas terrorist organization is required to fulfill its obligations to the mediators and return him as part of the [ceasefire] agreement’s implementation. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we bring him home to Israel,” the PMO said.
According to the IDF, Rinthalak was killed during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks and his body was taken to the Gaza Strip, where it was held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. He worked in agriculture and was abducted from the orchards of Kibbutz Be’eri.
Rinthalak was 42 at the time of his death, which was officially confirmed on May 16, 2024. He is survived by his brother, Thaphon, his father Thongma and mother On.
He was born and raised in the town of Rattanawapi in Nong Khai province, northeastern Thailand, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
Rinthalak “worked in agriculture for many years before arriving in Israel in 2017 as part of a foreign worker employment program. He was employed on farms in the Gaza border region and was regarded as hardworking and well-liked by his coworkers,” the Forum said.
“The IDF expresses its deep condolences to the families, continues to make every effort to return the remaining deceased hostage, and is prepared to continue implementing the agreement,” the military said.
His family and the Thai ambassador to Israel, Bonyarit Vichienpahn, “expressed their profound gratitude and appreciation to the State of Israel for its efforts to bring Sutadisak home and for the continued support extended to the family since the outbreak of the war,” according to the PMO statement.
A total of 39 Thai nationals were murdered and 31 Thai nationals were taken captive on Oct. 7.
“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,” said Israeli President Isaac Herzog. “I also express my appreciation for the Thai community in Israel, who continue to contribute so much to our country.”
Herzog said that the Hamas terror group’s “cruelty continues” with Gvili’s body still in Gaza.
“When we say we won’t stop until every last hostage is home, we mean it,” said Herzog.
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