The body of Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak has been handed over by militant groups and recovered, Israeli authorities confirmed, leaving only one hostage or corpse still unreturned in Gaza.

The handover — mediated by the Red Cross — is part of a broader ceasefire-linked agreement that aims to bring all captives back after the October 2023 Hamas attack.

Rinthalak, a 42-year-old agricultural worker, was abducted from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023, when the militant incursions into Israel triggered widespread violence.

His remains were recovered from the Gaza Strip and underwent forensic identification before being formally returned — a grim milestone for his grieving family.

Israeli officials said the return of his body fulfils one of the conditions of the ceasefire accord signed in October.

Until now, many hostages had been released alive, and several deceased captives returned; but two bodies — that of Rinthalak and a police officer from Israel — remained missing.

With the confirmation of Rinthalak’s death and return, only one hostage’s remains remain in Gaza, according to the authorities.

The Thai Embassy in Israel and Thailand’s foreign ministry were notified and are coordinating with the family on repatriation for burial.

In a public statement, Israel’s government expressed condolences for the “deep sorrow” felt by Rinthalak’s family and the Thai people, and pledged to continue efforts to recover the final hostage’s remains.

For the family and survivors, the return brings a painful measure of closure — but also underscores the human cost of a conflict that continues to haunt communities across borders.

As international efforts push for the full release of all captives and the safe return of the final body, the focus now turns to the fate of the last hostage still in Gaza and the broader humanitarian challenges that persist across the region.