JERUSALEM: The Israeli army has retrieved the physique of Thai hostage, Nattapong Pinta, who had been held in Gaza since Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023, assault on Israel, Defence Minister Israel Katz stated on Saturday (Jun 7).
Pinta’s physique was held by a Palestinian militant group referred to as the Mujahedeen Brigades, and was retrieved from the realm of Rafah in southern Gaza, Katz stated. His household in Thailand has been notified.
Pinta, an agricultural employee, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small neighborhood close to the border, the place one in 4 individuals was killed or taken hostage throughout the Hamas-led 2023 assault that triggered the devastating struggle in Gaza.
The Israeli army stated Pinta had been kidnapped alive and killed by his captors, who had additionally killed and brought to Gaza the our bodies of two extra Israeli-American hostages that had been retrieved this week.
There was no fast remark from the militant group.
Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 individuals in Israel within the 2023 assault, Israel’s deadliest day, and took 251 hostages, 55 of whom stay in Gaza. Twenty hostages are believed to nonetheless be alive, in accordance with Israeli authorities.
Israel responded to the Hamas assaults with a army marketing campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, in accordance with Gaza well being authorities within the Hamas-run strip, and left a lot of the enclave in ruins, with a inhabitants of greater than 2 million individuals largely displaced.
