The body of Thai hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak has been identified and is in the process of being transferred from Israel to his family in Thailand.
By Rachel Avraham
Israeli officials confirmed on Thursday that the remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai citizen brutally murdered during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led massacre, have been positively identified following their transfer to Israel, I24 News reported. According to the report, Rinthalak, 42, had been employed in agricultural work in an Israeli community when he was murdered near Kibbutz Be’eri during the massacre. Hamas had abducted his body to Gaza, thus depriving his family of a proper burial for over two years.
“The Israeli government shares in the deep sorrow of the Rinthalak family and of all the families of the fallen hostages,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement Thursday, the Times of Israel reported. According to the report, the Prime Minister’s Office added that Israel is “determined, committed and working tirelessly” to bring back Gvili, the final slain hostage, 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.”
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, the Times of Israel reported. According to the report, 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,” said the Prime Minister’s Office. The Times of Israel reported that Rinthalak is survived by his parents, Thong Ma and Orn, and his older brother, Thepporn.
According to the Times of Israel, President Isaac Herzog sent condolences to the Rinthalak family, as well as to the people of his home country of Thailand. “For 789 painful days, Sudthisak was held hostage in Gaza,” Herzog said in a statement. “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.” According to the Times of Israel, the president’s statement noted that Rinthalak was one of 31 Thai nationals taken hostage that day. During the massacre, 39 Thai nationals were murdered.
Herzog vowed to keep pushing for the return of Gvili’s body: “When we say we won’t stop until every last hostage is home, we mean it,” he said. The Jerusalem Post reported that Staff-Sergeant Major Ran Gvili was killed in battle fighting infiltrating Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, after saving the lives of partygoers fleeing the Nova music festival in Re’im and defending Kibbutz Alumim from Hamas terrorists. After evacuating survivors of the Nova massacre to safety, Gvili and his comrades returned to Alumim to continue the fight against the dozens of terrorists who attempted to conquer the kibbutz, the Jerusalem Post noted. Wounded and surrounded, Gvili was overpowered by Hamas terrorists and was subsequently murdered, the Jerusalem Post stressed. His body was abducted to Gaza and he is now the only Israeli hostage to remain in Gaza.
Photo from The Star: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2evdcOdNNE
