Remains of Last Thai Hostage in Gaza Returned Home After More Than Two Years

Thailand has repatriated the remains of the final Thai national who had been held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, bringing a somber close to a long and painful chapter for his family and for the country. The body of 43 year old Sudthisak Rinthalak arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday, according to the Thai foreign ministry, marking the end of a wait that lasted more than two years.

Ministry official Jeerasak Pomsuwan confirmed that the remains were flown from Tel Aviv to Bangkok following coordinated efforts between Thai authorities, Israeli officials and international partners involved in humanitarian negotiations. Sudthisak had been working on an agricultural farm in southern Israel when Hamas militants launched a large scale cross border assault in October 2023. He was killed during the attack and his body was subsequently taken into Gaza, where it remained throughout the conflict that followed.

For more than two years, Thai diplomats and families of affected workers sought answers and pressed for updates as the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsened and negotiations over hostages and remains repeatedly stalled. Thailand had one of the largest groups of foreign civilian casualties from the attack due to the high number of Thai agricultural laborers employed in Israel at the time. The return of Sudthisak’s remains marks the final repatriation effort connected to that tragic day.

Officials said the recovery was made possible after renewed communication between negotiating parties in late 2025, when the issue of missing individuals gained renewed attention during wider ceasefire discussions. While details of the operation were not disclosed, Thai officials expressed gratitude to all governments, organizations and mediators involved in securing the transfer.

Sudthisak’s family had long called for his return and had held frequent ceremonies and gatherings to pray for closure. Relatives described him as a hardworking man who travelled abroad to support his family and hoped for a better future. News of the repatriation brought both relief and sorrow, with family members saying that although the outcome was heartbreaking, they felt comforted that he was finally back on home soil.

The Thai government said arrangements are being made to assist the family and to ensure proper funeral rites can be carried out in accordance with Buddhist tradition. Officials also reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to improving protections for Thai workers overseas, many of whom continue to seek employment in high risk regions due to better wages.

The return of Sudthisak’s remains also reopened discussion in Thailand about the safety of migrant laborers and the need for stronger safeguards and contingency plans. Many lawmakers have urged closer monitoring of overseas employment contracts, faster emergency communication systems and enhanced cooperation with host nations during crises.

As the country mourns the loss of one of its citizens, Thai leaders emphasized that every effort must continue to ensure that workers abroad are protected and that families never face such prolonged uncertainty again. For now, the focus remains on honoring Sudthisak’s memory and offering his family the peace they have sought for more than two years.