### Israel Recovers Body of Thai Farmworker Taken Hostage in Gaza

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Israeli military announced the recovery of the body of a Thai farmworker who had been abducted and taken to Gaza during a 2023 Hamas-led attack. The deceased, Nattapong Pinta, was in his 30s and had been working at Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel at the time of his capture. According to the military, Pinta was held hostage and subsequently killed by members of the Mujahideen Brigades, a lesser-known militant group based in Gaza.

The Israeli security forces retrieved Pinta's body from the Rafah area in southern Gaza after acquiring intelligence from a Palestinian militant during an interrogation conducted by the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency. This development marks a significant moment for both Israeli and Thai communities affected by the ongoing conflict.

On the same day, the Gaza health ministry reported the arrival of 95 bodies in hospitals, casualties of Israeli attacks that occurred on Thursday and Friday, coinciding with the start of the Muslim Eid al-Adha feast. The ministry also noted over 300 wounded individuals, although it does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its reports.

In recent days, numerous Palestinians seeking aid have been caught in the crossfire. Israeli officials stated that their military actions targeted militants and their infrastructure, while aid distribution efforts in Gaza have faced severe complications. An Israeli-backed aid site intended to deliver resources without Hamas's intervention has experienced several violent incidents, leading to casualties among those trying to collect food.

The Red Cross reported that its field hospital in southern Gaza received 40 bodies and 323 wounded individuals with gunshot and shrapnel injuries. Many of the injured later succumbed to their wounds. Witnesses have described chaotic scenes as Palestinians attempted to reach aid distribution points, often ignoring warnings from Israeli drones to leave the area.

Separately, four Israeli soldiers lost their lives, and five others were injured in an explosion in Khan Younis, where they were operating within a Hamas compound. This incident underscores the continuing volatility in the region.

The successful retrieval of Pinta's body follows the announcement earlier this week that Israeli forces had recovered the remains of two Israeli Americans, Judi Weinstein Haggai and Gadi Haggai, also killed by the Mujahideen Brigades. Later on Saturday, the Israeli military confirmed the death of the Mujahideen Brigades' leader, Asaad Abu Sharia, in Gaza City.

Efforts to free hostages have seen some progress; during temporary cease-fires in November 2023 and earlier this year, several Thai captives were released. However, the cease-fires collapsed, and Israel resumed its offensive in mid-March.

As of now, the Israeli government estimates that 55 captives, both alive and deceased, remain in Gaza. The Israeli Foreign Ministry provided details of the recovery operation to Thailand's foreign minister. Pinta, who had been working in Israel for over a year, is survived by his wife and son. He is remembered as a strong-willed individual who helped bridge the gap between Thai farmworkers and their Israeli employers.