BANGKOK: Thai officials on Thursday said remains handed over to Israel by militants in Gaza have been identified as belonging to the last Thai hostage taken on the Oct. 7, 2023.
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had been notified by Israeli authorities that the remains of a hostage that were returned on Wednesday was identified as Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai national who was an agricultural worker in Israel.
Remains militants handed over Tuesday did not match either of the last two hostages.
The return of all the hostages taken during the attack that started the war is a key element of the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire that began in October, which both Hamas and Israel have accused the other of breaking. In exchange, Israel has been releasing Palestinian prisoners.
Nikorndej Balankura, the Thai Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, said that Sudthisak’s family has been notified. He added that Sudthisak was killed on the day of the attack, and his body was taken into Gaza.
