TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) - Israel announced the retrieval of the body of Thai hostage Nattapong Pinta, who was kidnapped on October 7, 2023, amid ongoing military operations in Gaza. Health officials reported that at least 22 people were killed in strike activities overnight.
Pinta, a Thai citizen who traveled to Israel to work in agriculture, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The Israeli government confirmed his death occurred early in the conflict. His body was returned to Israel following a specialized military operation, as stated by the Prime Minister's office on Saturday.
This news comes just two days after Israeli forces retrieved the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages, leaving 55 hostages believed to be still held in Gaza, with Israeli officials claiming that more than half of them are deceased. The country's Defense Minister indicated that Pinta's body was found in the Rafah area, highlighting the ongoing grim situation regarding hostages taken during the conflict.
The Mujahideen Brigades, the armed group responsible for Pinta's abduction, has also been linked to the abduction and killings of Shiri Bibas and her two children, as well as the two Israeli-American hostages whose remains were recovered recently. Israel utilized information from its hostage task force and military intelligence to locate Pinta's body.
A statement from the hostage forum that supports family members of the hostages expressed solidarity with Pinta’s family and urged Israeli officials to work towards bringing home the remaining hostages while providing proper burials for those who have died.
Thais constituted the largest group of foreign nationals taken captive by Hamas militants. Many Thai agricultural workers resided in compounds near southern Israeli kibbutzim and towns, which were among the first locations overrun by Hamas forces. Reports from Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that 46 Thais have died throughout the conflict.
Prior to the recovery of Pinta's body, three Thai hostages were still unaccounted for, with two confirmed deceased. The fate of Pinta was uncertain until the recent announcement from the hostage forum, which highlighted the ongoing anguish for families awaiting news about their loved ones.
The retrieval of Pinta's body occurred amid Israel's extensive military campaign across Gaza. Hospital officials reported that they received the remains of nearly two dozen individuals over the weekend, underscoring the human toll of the ongoing strife. Reports indicate that airstrikes targeted multiple locations, with one strike in northern Gaza reportedly killing seven individuals, including a mother and her five children, whose remains were taken to Shifa hospital.
In response to what it termed "barbaric attacks" by Hamas, Israel declared it is working to dismantle the militant group’s operational capabilities while asserting adherence to international law and taking precautions to minimize civilian casualties.
Following the October 7 attack, in which Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, and abducted 251 hostages, Israel indicated that it has managed to rescue eight live hostages from Gaza while recovering numerous bodies. Despite efforts, 55 hostages reportedly remain in captivity, with about a third believed to be alive after several were released during ceasefire negotiations.
As of now, Israel's military actions have claimed the lives of more than 54,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants. The ongoing offensive has ravaged significant portions of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population, estimated at roughly 2 million Palestinians.
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Jahjouh reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press reporter Bassem Mroue contributed from Beirut, Lebanon.
Sam Mednick And Mohammad Jahjouh, The Associated Press
