Israel says it has recovered the body of a Thai national who was taken hostage during the Hamas-led attack in October 2023. Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed that forces retrieved the body of Nattapong Pinta during an operation in the Rafah area of southern Gaza on Friday.
Mr Pinta, 35, worked as a farm labourer in southern Israel when he was kidnapped. A military official said he likely died within the first few months of captivity. Until the operation, his status remained unknown.
Earlier this week, Israeli forces also recovered the bodies of two Israeli-American citizens in Gaza.
Thai worker abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz
Mr Pinta, a father and husband, had travelled from Thailand to support his family. He worked at Kibbutz Nir Oz when militants from the Mujahideen Brigades captured him.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the recovery operation followed new intelligence. Interrogation of a captured suspect led to the discovery of Mr Pinta’s remains.
After the news broke, the BBC tried to contact his wife. She did not take the call but later replied with a photo of their son in tears.
Families urge government to secure remaining hostages
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a campaign group, said the discovery ended “20 months of painful uncertainty.” It urged the Israeli government to reach a deal with Hamas to free the remaining hostages.
Mr Pinta is believed to be the last Thai hostage taken on 7 October 2023. Five others were freed during a ceasefire earlier this year.
On Thursday, Israeli forces recovered the bodies of Judy and Gadi Haggai from Khan Younis in Gaza. The couple, who also lived at Kibbutz Nir Oz, were killed during the October attack. The same militant group reportedly held their bodies.
Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza after the 7 October assault. The attack killed about 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages.
The Israeli military says 54 hostages remain. It believes 31 of them are no longer alive.
Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 54,600 people have died in the conflict.
