Israeli Army Recovers Body of Thai Hostage in Gaza

The Israeli military has reported the recovery of the body of a Thai hostage during a recent operation in the Gaza Strip. According to military sources, the remains of Nattapong Pinta were discovered in a coordinated effort involving military personnel and the internal security agency Shin Bet near Rafah, located in the southern region of the contested coastal territory.

Pinta was reportedly abducted on October 7, 2023, from the Kibbutz Nir Oz, which borders the Gaza Strip. Military officials indicated that he was killed by members of the Palestinian Mujahideen Brigades while in captivity. The recovery was made possible through precise intelligence, and the family has been notified following forensic identification of the remains.

The Hostage Families Forum expressed its condolences, stating, "Today we stand in solidarity with Nattapong's family and share in their grief. Although the pain is immeasurable, his family will finally have certainty after 20 harrowing months of devastating uncertainty." Until recently, it was unclear whether Pinta was still alive.

Prior to the tragic events of October 7, Pinta had worked as a farm laborer in Kibbutz Nir Oz. Reports indicate that his family is currently residing in Thailand. Among the hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza, Thai nationals represent the second-largest group, following those with Israeli citizenship.

As of now, numerous hostages remain in Gaza. The Hostage Families Forum has urged the Israeli government to take all necessary measures to reach an agreement that would ensure the safe return of the remaining 55 hostages. Each family of those still held deserves closure to begin their personal healing process.

Just two days prior to this recovery, the military had also retrieved the bodies of two hostages, Gadi Chagai and Judy Weinstein Chagai, who were also abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Their remains were located in the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza.