Israel bids farewell to fallen hostage as body returns to Thailand

Rinthalak, 42, was killed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in the orchards of Kibbutz Be’eri, and his body was taken to Gaza.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

A farewell ceremony for Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai agricultural worker killed during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, was held Tuesday morning at Ben-Gurion International Airport.

Hamas returned Sudthisak’s remains on December 4. His body will be buried in Thailand.

“I encourage all of us to safeguard the dreams of ordinary and innocent people like Mr. Sudthisak and the remaining hostages. The royal Thai government joins the Israeli people in praying for the return of the last Israeli hostage,” said Thailand’s Ambassador to Israel Boonyarit Vichienpuntu.

Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, Coordinator for the Hostages and the Missing reaffirmed Israel’s commitment “to continue to stand by the Rinthalak family.”

Rinthalak, 42, was killed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in the orchards of Kibbutz Be’eri, and his body was taken to Gaza.

He is survived by his parents, Thong Ma and Orn, and his older brother, Thepporn.

Before the war, 30,000–40,000 Thais worked in Israel’s agricultural sector. During the October 7 attack, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad killed 39 Thai nationals and abducted another 31.

Around 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. The body of Israeli Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili is the last remaining in Gaza.