****

In a major development, Israel has successfully retrieved the body of Nattapong Pinta, a Thai national who was abducted during the Hamas-led attack in October 2023. The Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, confirmed the operation, which took place in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.

Nattapong Pinta, 35, was an agricultural labourer in southern Israel when he was captured by the militant group Mujahideen Brigades. According to the Israeli military, he was likely killed during his first months of captivity. However, it was only during a recent special operation based on intelligence gathered from a "captured terrorist" that his death was confirmed.

The retrieval operation marks a poignant moment for his family, particularly his wife and young son, who remained in Thailand. The family's plight was highlighted when Nattapong's wife responded to inquiries with a heart-wrenching image of their son in tears. The grim confirmation ends what the Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group described as "20 terrible and agonising months of devastating uncertainty."

Nattapong is the last Thai national to be unaccounted for from the attack on 7 October 2023. Earlier this year, during a ceasefire, five other Thai hostages were released alive. The Israeli army also recovered the bodies of an elderly Israeli American couple, Judy and Gadi Haggai, from Gaza, where they had been held by the same militant group.

This development is part of the broader context of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to the October 2023 cross-border attack that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. As of now, 54 individuals remain in captivity, with the Israeli military declaring 31 of them deceased.

The conflict has had devastating impacts on both sides, with Gaza's health ministry reporting over 54,677 fatalities. Further violence was reported as at least one Palestinian was killed and 30 others injured in an Israeli strike on Khan Younis.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has called on the Israeli government to negotiate an agreement with Hamas for the release of the remaining captives, a plea underscoring the desperate need for resolution amidst ongoing turmoil.