Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Nattapong Pinta’s body was retrieved from Gaza, underscoring the prolonged anguish faced by families of hostages and the humanitarian fallout of the ongoing conflict.
Recovery of Thai Hostage's Body Highlights Ongoing Crisis in Gaza

Recovery of Thai Hostage's Body Highlights Ongoing Crisis in Gaza
The Israeli military has confirmed the recovery of the body of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai national kidnapped during the Hamas-led attacks in October 2023, raising awareness of unresolved hostages.
Israeli authorities have confirmed the recovery of the body of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai national who was taken hostage during the Hamas-led assault in October 2023. Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed that the body was retrieved in a special operation in Rafah, located in southern Gaza, with military sources indicating Nattapong likely died shortly after his kidnapping. The 35-year-old agricultural worker, who was seeking to support his family back in Thailand, was captured by the Mujahideen Brigades during a violent incursion.
Prior to this operation, the fate of Nattapong was uncertain, a circumstance reflecting the ongoing turmoil affecting many families of hostages. His recovery follows the recent retrieval of bodies belonging to two Israeli Americans earlier in the week, intensifying the focus on the hostages' situation. Mr. Nattapong, a married father to a young son, was a part of a group that included five Thai nationals initially abducted. All others in this group were released earlier in a ceasefire.
A campaign group, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, has referred to the recovery of Nattapong's body as an end to "20 terrible and agonising months" of uncertainty, urging efforts by the Israeli government to negotiate with Hamas for the release of remaining captives.
The recent military operations follow a significant escalation in violence leading to the deaths of approximately 1,200 people during the initial attacks, with continuing reports indicating that 54 hostages still remain in captivity today — a tragic reminder of the human cost of this conflict. According to the Gaza health ministry, over 54,677 individuals have lost their lives in the ongoing war, further emphasizing the dire humanitarian situation in the region.