Israel anticipates the return of the final hostage remains from Gaza

Israel is anticipating the return of the last hostage remains held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. The Israeli military announced Thursday that the remains of a Thai national, Sudthisak Rinthalak, have been identified following their handover.

As part of the initial phase of a US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, militants were expected to release all 48 hostages, 20 of whom are still alive. With the exception of Israeli officer Ran Gvili, all other deceased hostages' remains have been returned. Israel has criticized Palestinian militants for delaying the return of bodies, while Hamas cited the challenge of recovering remains buried under the rubble from two years of intense conflict.

The Israeli army reported that Rinthalak, who worked in agriculture and was 43 at the time of his death, was killed on October 7, 2023, and his body had been taken to Gaza. Israel officially confirmed his death in May 2024. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described the return of Rinthalaks remains as a small measure of relief for his grieving family after more than two years of uncertainty.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office released a statement expressing condolences to Rinthalaks family, the Thai people, and all families of hostages lost during the conflict.

The last remaining hostage body in Gaza is that of Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old officer in Israels Yasam elite police unit, who died during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. The attack took 251 hostages and resulted in 1,221 deaths. In response, Israels military operations in Gaza have reportedly caused over 70,000 deaths, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Palestinian militants have returned the 20 surviving hostages and 27 of the 28 deceased. In return, Israel has released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and returned hundreds of bodies of Palestinians killed in the conflict.

The handover of Rinthalaks remains occurs amid tensions, as both sides accuse each other of breaching the fragile ceasefire. Recently, Gazas civil defense reported that an Israeli strike killed five people, including two children, in the south. Israel stated it targeted a Hamas militant in retaliation for attacks on its troops in the area. Hamas condemned the Israeli strikes, calling them a violation of the ceasefire and a war crime.

Since the ceasefire began, at least 360 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli forces, while Israel has lost three soldiers during the same period.

Author: Connor Blake