The coffin of a deceased hostage discovered on Wednesday in northern Gaza has been transferred to IDF forces and arrived in Israeli territory, following an announcement by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror organization about locating the body during searches in the area. Israel is preparing to receive the coffin from the Red Cross within hours, and it will be transferred for examination at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine.
A joint statement from the IDF Spokesperson and Shin Bet Spokesperson said, "According to information provided by the Red Cross, the coffin of a deceased hostage has been handed over to them and they are making their way towards IDF forces in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is required to abide by the agreement and make all necessary efforts to return the slain hostages."
This development followed an announcement by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group that its operatives had recovered the deceased hostage during searches in the area. Israel is preparing to receive the casket of the deceased from the Red Cross in the coming hours, after which it will be transferred for forensic examination at the National Center of Forensic Medicine.
Video: Hamas recovering what could be a deceased hostage on Dec. 3, 2025 / Credit: Arab media
The terrorist organization Palestinian Islamic Jihad announced Wednesday that it has located a deceased hostage during searches in the northern Gaza Strip. The organization's "military wing," the Al-Quds Brigades, stated that work has been ongoing to complete the procedures for the transfer of deceased hostage under the Gaza ceasefire agreement, in accordance with the relevant protocols. Earlier, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists had conducted searches in the Beit Lahiya area.
The terrorist organization Hamas announced that it would deliver the remains of a deceased hostage located in the northern Strip, together with Palestinian Islamic Jihad, at 5:00 p.m.. Israel has prepared to receive and examine the remains at the National Center of Forensic Medicine.
Currently, the bodies of two deceased hostages remain in Gaza: Staff Sgt. First Class Ran Gvili (age 24) and Sudthisak Rinthalak (age 43). Gvili, a special police unit (Yasam) officer, killed 14 terrorists before being abducted. Rinthalak, a Thai worker, was abducted while working in the orchards.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday that Israel had received forensic findings from the Gaza Strip, which were transferred to The IDF and The Shin Bet forces inside the Strip via the Red Cross.
A message was delivered Wednesday stating, "After completing the identification process at the National Center of Forensic Medicine, it was determined that the findings brought for examination from the Gaza Strip yesterday are not linked to any of the deceased hostages." The statement added, "An update was delivered to the families of the two deceased hostages. The effort to repatriate them will not cease until the mission is complete – to bring them to a proper burial in their homeland."
The officer who fought with a broken shoulder
On the morning of October 7, after his family descended to their shelter, Gvili left and returned dressed in uniform.
His father, Itzik Gvili, recalled, "Rani said he would not let his friends fight alone, and that despite the broken shoulder, he could hold a pistol. I will never forget his look – it was as if he was saying, 'I've been waiting for this my whole life.'" Gvili reached the Beersheba police station, deployed to the battle in Alumim, and was shot in his hand and leg.
His mother, Talik Gvili, explained, "Rani took cover near a eucalyptus tree and applied a tourniquet to himself. He updated his friends on the direction the terrorists were approaching from. Meanwhile, dozens of Hamas operatives arrived and surrounded him." While facing them alone, he successfully eliminated 14 of the terrorists just moments before he was kidnapped.
Despite the declaration that he was deceased, his parents expressed doubts about his death. "There are quite a few question marks arising from the details conveyed to us," Talik Gvili stated. "There are contradictions between the findings that were presented to us."
The Thai worker kidnapped from the orchards
Rinthalak (43) was a Thai national who had been employed in agriculture in Israel since 2017. He is survived by his parents and a brother. On the morning of the massacre, he was working in the orchards near Kibbutz Beeri.
On May 16, seven months after the massacre, his parents received the terrible news that their son had been murdered and his body was being held in Gaza. He was one of eight Thai citizens kidnapped to the Strip. Approximately two weeks after the massacre, his aunt was interviewed in Thailand and recounted that Rinthalak habitually sent money to his parents. On the day of the massacre, a video was shared from the terrorist attack in which she witnessed her nephew being kidnapped.
