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Thai worker's remains returned after 789 days in captivity
Israel confirmed on Thursday that the body of 43-year-old Suthisak Rintalak, a Thai agricultural worker, was among those repatriated from Gaza via the Red Cross the previous day. His remains were identified after being held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad since the October 7, 2023 attack.
Final deceased hostage still unaccounted for
Under the terms of the temporary ceasefire agreement, only one more deceased hostage-24-year-old Israeli police officer Master Sgt Ran Gvili-remains in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office expressed condolences to Rintalak's family and pledged to secure Gvili's return.
Family reacts to long-awaited confirmation
Rintalak, originally from Rattanawapi in northeastern Thailand, had moved to Israel in 2017 under a foreign worker program. He was employed on farms near the Gaza border, including Kibbutz Be'eri, where he was killed during the Hamas-led assault. His mother, On, told Israeli Army Radio the news was devastating after two years of uncertainty.
"Two years have passed. We felt great sadness when we knew he was no longer among the living."
On, mother of Suthisak Rintalak
Ceasefire deal progress and ongoing tensions
All 31 Thai nationals abducted on October 7 have now been accounted for, with Thailand's foreign ministry acknowledging Israel's role in their repatriation. The ceasefire agreement initially required Hamas to return 20 living hostages and 28 bodies within 72 hours. While all living hostages were released by October 13, the remains of 23 Israelis and four foreign nationals-including Rintalak-have since been recovered.
In exchange, Israel has returned the bodies of 345 Palestinians killed during the conflict. However, the truce remains fragile, with both sides trading accusations of violations.
Fresh violence underscores fragile truce
On Wednesday night, an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza's al-Mawasi area killed five Palestinians, including two children, according to a local hospital. Israel's military stated the strike targeted a Hamas operative in retaliation for an earlier attack that wounded five Israeli soldiers. Hamas condemned the strike as a "clear war crime."
US outlines next steps for Gaza plan
US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that the next phase of his Gaza peace initiative-covering post-war governance, Israeli troop withdrawal, Hamas disarmament, and reconstruction-would proceed soon. He acknowledged recent violence but emphasized progress, stating, "We have peace in the Middle East. People don't realize it."
