Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, announced the recovery of the body of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai national held hostage since the October 2023 Hamas attack. The 35-year-old agricultural worker was retrieved during a special operation in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Friday.
An Israeli military official stated that Mr. Pinta was likely killed early in his captivity, although his fate was previously unknown. This follows the earlier recovery of two Israeli-American bodies in Gaza earlier this week.
Mr. Pinta, a married father, worked at Kibbutz Nir Oz to support his family in Thailand. He was abducted by the Mujahideen Brigades. The IDF launched the recovery mission based on intelligence gathered during the interrogation of a captured terrorist.
Following Saturday’s reports, the BBC contacted Mr. Pinta’s wife, who responded with a picture of her crying son. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed relief after “20 agonizing months of uncertainty,” urging the government to secure the release of remaining captives.
Mr. Pinta is believed to be the last remaining Thai national abducted during the October 7th, 2023 attack. Five others were released during a ceasefire earlier this year. The IDF also recovered the bodies of Judy and Gadi Haggai, an elderly couple killed at the same kibbutz and held by the Mujahideen Brigades.
Israel’s military operation in Gaza, launched in response to the Hamas attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, continues. Currently, 54 hostages remain missing, with 31 presumed dead by the Israeli military. The Gaza health ministry reports at least 54,677 deaths in Gaza during the conflict.
Additional reporting by Thanyarat Doksone
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