Israeli security forces have successfully retrieved the body of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai farmworker taken hostage during the 2023 Hamas attacks, as confirmed by the military. The operation involved intelligence from interrogated Palestinian militants.
Israel Recovers Body of Thai Farmworker Killed by Militants in Gaza
Israel Recovers Body of Thai Farmworker Killed by Militants in Gaza
Israeli military confirms recovery of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai citizen abducted during Hamas-led attacks in 2023.
The body of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai national who worked at Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, was recovered from Rafah, Gaza. The Israeli military reported today that Pinta, in his 30s, had been abducted during the unexpected Hamas-led assault on October 7, 2023. Tragically, he was held captive by a minor militant group known as the Mujahideen Brigades and subsequently killed.
The operation to retrieve his body was aided by intelligence gathered from a Palestinian militant during interrogation, demonstrating Israel’s ongoing efforts to recover hostages even in dire circumstances. In the October attack, numerous Thai workers were taken hostage, with two additional Thai citizens, Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Sudthisak Rinthalak, believed to still be missing in Gaza.
According to societal advocate Yahel Kurlander, the latest developments have left approximately 55 living and deceased hostages either confirmed in captivity or believed to be held there, with the Israeli government estimating that around 23 of them remain alive.
In a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar informed his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa, of the measures undertaken to bring Pinta's body back home. Pinta had been residing and working in Israel for over a year before his abduction, noted for his role in fostering community ties among Thai laborers and their employers, as highlighted by Josh Lawson from the Israeli prime minister’s office.
This tragic incident underscores the ongoing ramifications of the conflict, highlighting the vulnerability of foreign workers amidst the escalated tensions in the region.
The operation to retrieve his body was aided by intelligence gathered from a Palestinian militant during interrogation, demonstrating Israel’s ongoing efforts to recover hostages even in dire circumstances. In the October attack, numerous Thai workers were taken hostage, with two additional Thai citizens, Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Sudthisak Rinthalak, believed to still be missing in Gaza.
According to societal advocate Yahel Kurlander, the latest developments have left approximately 55 living and deceased hostages either confirmed in captivity or believed to be held there, with the Israeli government estimating that around 23 of them remain alive.
In a statement from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar informed his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa, of the measures undertaken to bring Pinta's body back home. Pinta had been residing and working in Israel for over a year before his abduction, noted for his role in fostering community ties among Thai laborers and their employers, as highlighted by Josh Lawson from the Israeli prime minister’s office.
This tragic incident underscores the ongoing ramifications of the conflict, highlighting the vulnerability of foreign workers amidst the escalated tensions in the region.
