BANGKOK (AP) — Thai officials said Thursday that remains handed over to Israel by militants in the Gaza Strip have been identified as those of the last Thai hostage taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that started the war.
Thailand's Foreign Ministry said it was notified by Israeli authorities that the hostage's remains, which were returned on Wednesday, had been identified as Sudhisak Rinthalak, a Thai national who worked as a farm worker in Israel.
The gunmen's remains handed over Tuesday did not match either of the last two hostages.
The return of all hostages taken in the attack that started the war is a key element of the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire that began in October, which both Hamas and Israel have accused each other of violating. In exchange, Israel releases Palestinian prisoners.
Nikornday Balankura, a spokesman for Thailand's Foreign Ministry, said Sudhisak's family had been notified. He added that Sudhisak was killed on the day of the attack and his body was taken to Gaza.
He thanked the Israeli government for its assistance, which led to the release of all 31 Thai hostages taken early in the war. Of these, 28 returned alive and three dead.
Since the latest ceasefire began in early October, 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others have been returned to Israel.
With only one hostage remaining, the sides are close to completing the first phase of the ceasefire.
Since the ceasefire began, Israel has transferred the bodies of hundreds of Palestinians to Gaza in exchange for hostages or their remains. Most remain unidentified.
