Thai hostage to arrive home from Israel on Wednesday (newly stated)
In a somber announcement, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that the body of Nattapong Pinta, a victim of the 2023 Gaza hostage crisis, will return to Thai shores on Wednesday.
The ministry shared that the remains will arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport around 2pm on Wednesday, following El Al flight LY081's departure from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv at 10.20pm local time on Tuesday.
Israeli forces had managed to recover Nattapong's body in the Rafah area of southern Gaza on June 7, 2025 [1][2][3]. Nattapong hailed from Phrae province.
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated earlier that Nattapong was brutally murdered in captivity by the Palestine-based militant group, the Mujahideen Brigades [2].
Initially, the brutal attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023 resulted in the demise of 46 Thai workers and the abduction of 31 individuals. In the aftermath, two hostages were confirmed deceased, while 23 were freed by the year's end [1]. Five more hostages were released in January of this year, leaving only Nattapong unaccounted for [1][2].
Regrettably, the bodies of two other hostages - Sonthaya Akkharasri from Nong Bua Lam Phu province and Sudthisak Rinthalak from Nong Khai - have not been recovered.
As of June 2025, the ministry confirmed that Nattapong is the last hostage whose remains have been returned. Ongoing conflict and ceasefire negotiations continue with hopes of securing the release or retrieval of the remaining hostages [1].
References:
- Israeli Defense Ministry
- Haaretz
- Times of Israel
In light of the ongoing conflict and ceasefire negotiations, the return of Nattapong Pinta, the last remaining Thai hostage, is imminent, marking a significant development in the general news and politics surrounding the 2023 Gaza hostage crisis. Despite the recovery of Nattapong's body, the remains of Sonthaya Akkharasri and Sudthisak Rinthalak, two other hostages, have yet to be returned, leaving hope for their release or retrieval in crime-and-justice discourse.
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