Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Dec 4: Israel has confirmed that the body handed over by the Red Cross on Wednesday belongs to 43-year-old Thai agricultural worker, Suthisak Rintalak. He was one of the last two deceased hostages still held in Gaza following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

The remains were transferred after the Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed to have located a hostage’s body in northern Gaza. Israeli authorities have notified Rintalak’s family and expressed condolences, adding that coordination is underway with the Thai embassy to repatriate his body.

The final deceased hostage still in Gaza is Ran Gvili, a 24-year-old Israeli police officer. The Israel Defense Forces asserted that efforts will continue to ensure his remains are returned, calling on Hamas to fulfil its obligations.

Both Rintalak and Gvili were killed during the October 7 attack and their bodies subsequently taken to Gaza, officials stated.

Under the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement, Hamas had agreed to hand over 20 living Israeli captives and the remains of 28 deceased Israeli and foreign hostages within 72 hours. All living captives were released on October 13 in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

So far, 23 Israeli and four foreign hostages’ remains have been returned. Israel has transferred the bodies of 345 Palestinians killed in the conflict. Israel has accused Hamas of delaying efforts to recover the remaining bodies, while Hamas claims the search is hindered by extensive destruction.

The stalled progress has halted movement toward the next phase of the US peace initiative, which includes governance arrangements for Gaza and withdrawal of Israeli forces. The conflict, triggered after the October 7 assault that killed around 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 taken hostage, has since claimed more than 70,100 lives in Gaza, according to local health authorities.