After the identification process was completed overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, IDF representatives together with the Foreign Ministry informed Rinthalak's family that he had been brought back for burial.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said that "alongside the profound sadness, the return of Sutthisak brings a measure of solace to his family, which has lived with agonizing uncertainty and doubt for more than two years."

According to the IDF, "based on the information and intelligence in our possession, Sutthisak Rinthalak, a Thai national, was murdered on October 7, 2023, and he was taken into the Gaza Strip, and held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. Rintalak, 42 at the time of his death, worked in agriculture and was abducted from the orchards of Kibbutz Be'eri. His death was formally declared on May 16, 2024. He is survived by his parents and a brother."

The Prime Minister's Office added: "The coordinator for hostages and missing persons, Brig. Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, informed Rinthalak's family that arrangements for returning his remains for burial in his home country will be coordinated with the Thai Embassy in Israel. The Rinthalak family and Thailand's ambassador to Israel, Panyarak Poolthup, expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the State of Israel for its efforts to retrieve Sutthisak and for the continuous support extended to the family since the outbreak of the war."

The Thai agricultural worker abducted from the fields

Rinthalak, 43, had worked in Israeli agriculture since 2017. He is survived by his parents and a brother. On the morning of the October 7 massacre, he was working in fields near Kibbutz Be'eri.

Seven months later, on May 16, his parents were notified that he had been murdered and that his body was being held in Gaza. He was one of eight Thai citizens abducted to the Strip. About two weeks after the massacre, his aunt spoke to Thai media, saying he regularly sent money to support his parents. On the day of the attack, the family received a video filmed by the terrorists showing her nephew being taken hostage.

The final deceased hostage still held in Gaza is Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, 24.

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The two deceased hostages who currently remain in Gaza are Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, 24 and Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43. Gvili, a Yasam officer in the Israel Police special patrol unit, killed 14 terrorists before he was abducted. Rinthalak, a Thai agricultural worker, was kidnapped while working in the orchards.

The officer who fought with a broken shoulder

Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili (24), an Israel Police Special Patrol Unit (riot police) officer from Meitar, acted with great bravery and self-sacrifice during the battle in Alumim on October 7. An expert committee officially determined on January 30 that Gvili was no longer alive. Gvili had suffered a broken shoulder approximately ten days before the massacre and was awaiting surgery.

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

Sutthisak 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.

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Islamic Jihad said Monday night that it had formally located a deceased hostage. Qatar's Al Jazeera channel reported that the evacuation of the deceased hostage took place amid the rubble in northern Nuseirat in the Gaza Strip. According to the report, the deceased hostage had been held by Islamic Jihad.

Earlier Tuesday, the Prime Minister's Office criticized the delay in transferring the deceased hostage. "In light of Islamic Jihad's announcement that it located remains of a deceased hostage, Israel views the delay in its immediate transfer with the utmost severity. This constitutes another violation of the agreement," the statement said.

Three deceased hostages remain in Gaza: Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili, 24; Dror Or, 49; and Sudthisak Rinthalak, 43. Gvili, a member of the Israel Police's Yasam special patrol unit, killed 14 terrorists before being abducted. Or was taken from his home in Kibbutz Be'eri; his wife was murdered and his children were released in the November 2023 deal. Rinthalak, a Thai agricultural worker, was kidnapped from the orchards where he worked.

The officer who fought with a broken shoulder

Staff Sgt. Ran Gvili (24), an Israel Police Special Patrol Unit (riot police) officer from Meitar, acted with great bravery and self-sacrifice during the battle in Alumim on October 7. An expert committee officially determined on January 30 that Gvili was no longer alive. Gvili had suffered a broken shoulder approximately ten days before the massacre and was awaiting surgery.

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 tragic family story left without parents

Dror Or (49) was a deceased hostage from Kibbutz Beeri who was kidnapped from his home on October 7. His wife, Yonat Or, was murdered, and their two children, Noam Or and Alma Or, were kidnapped and later released in the first deal in November 2023. An expert committee determined in May 2024 that Or was no longer alive.

Dror Or was a devoted father to his three children – Yahli Or (18), Noam Or (17), and Alma Or (13). He served as Kibbutz Beeri's cheesemaker, a leading culinary professional, a yoga instructor, and a man who appreciated the silence.

On October 7, terrorists reached their home in the Kerem neighborhood. The family barricaded themselves in the safe room as their house was set on fire. While inside, united, Dror and Yonat made the decision to get their children out through the window – an action that ultimately saved their lives. Afterward, the couple separated and attempted to escape, but both were caught and murdered. The children were kidnapped to Gaza and returned to Israel after 50 days in captivity.

The Thai worker kidnapped from the orchards

Sutthisak 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.

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Earlier in the day, Israeli officials noted that Hamas could immediately return one of the deceased hostages if it chose to do so, and could hand over another within several days.

Regarding two additional deceased hostages, the assessment in Israel is that Hamas does not know where they are. In recent weeks, however, Israeli officials have already discovered that Hamas holds information on some of the deceased hostages whose whereabouts Israel had believed Hamas did not know. For this reason, Israel's demand of Hamas is now unequivocal: the return of all four remaining deceased hostages.

Hamas conducted another search earlier Thursday for a deceased hostage in the Zeitoun neighborhood, across the yellow line, meaning within an area under Israeli control. The search produced no results. Israeli officials stress that Hamas is stalling, in part to strengthen its own governance and consolidate its standing ahead of the second phase of the deal. In that stage, Israel will be required to withdraw further from the area, while Hamas will be required to disarm.

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Earlier, the Qatari network Al Jazeera reported, citing its sources, that mediators between Israel and Hamas are holding talks to arrange the departure of Hamas terrorists from areas beyond the Yellow Line.

According to the sources, the purpose of the arrangement is to ensure the "safe exit" of terrorists and to prevent any possible friction between them and Israel Defense Forces troops.

The report said the proposed framework includes moving terrorists in Red Cross vehicles through designated safe crossings. The sources added that Hamas has agreed to the arrangements for the departure of its remaining operatives from areas beyond the Yellow Line and is now waiting for Israeli approval of the plan.

Earlier Sunday, Hamas claimed it had located three deceased hostages. Saudi-owned channel Al Arabiya reported that thhe hostages were allegedly recovered from the rubble. It should be noted that Hamas is still holding 11 deceased hostages and has lied about their status in recent weeks. Israel has received indications and is preparing for the possible transfer of the bodies.

Last Friday, Israel received remains of three bodies from the International Red Cross, which were sent for examination at the National Center of Forensic Medicine. According to the findings, the remains did not belong to any of the deceased hostages. Hamas later issued a statement claiming that Israel had requested to test unidentified bodies and had refused to receive samples to confirm whether they were the hostages.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an urgent meeting Tuesday afternoon after his testimony in court was cut short due to security developments.

Video: IDF forces delineating Yellow Line / Credit: IDF

Israel is examining a series of punishment measures against Hamas for repeated agreement violations. Some of the sanctions under consideration include moving the yellow line westward, meaning expanding Israeli-controlled territory; re-entering the Netzarim Corridor to restrict Palestinian movement; reducing aid convoys and limiting entry of goods; and continuing the closure of the Rafah crossing.

A first penalty step was already decided when Hamas operatives were banned from working with the Red Cross in Israeli-controlled areas. The move was approved earlier this week to locate fallen hostages.

Netanyahu already faces pressure from cabinet members, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, to "let all hell break loose." Smotrich sent a letter to the prime minister stating, "I intend to demand that the prime minister order the IDF to immediately rearrest all the terrorists released to the West Bank in the hostage deal in response to Hamas's repeated violations."

Ben-Gvir wrote on X, "The fact that Hamas continues playing games and not immediately transferring all our fallen soldiers' bodies proves the terror organization still stands on its feet. The time has come to break those legs once and for all. Now we don't need to 'extract a price from Hamas' for the violations. We need to extract its very existence from it and destroy it completely – in accordance with the central objective defined for the war of revival. Mr. Prime Minister, enough hesitation – give the order!"

Another person who called on Netanyahu to respond forcefully was his main electoral rival and former prime minister, Naftali Bennett. "Not 'we'll settle accounts' and not 'painful response.' Hamas is cancer. Hamas must be destroyed," Bennett wrote.

"Not Learning from Mistakes"

The family of fallen hostage Hadar Goldin responded, "Hamas continues the psychological terror as in all 4,107 days they have held him, except this time Hamas made a mistake from which there will be no way back – this is an act of terror that Hamas is now doing personally and deliberately against US President Donald Trump. We are confident President Trump will respond uncompromisingly, especially in light of the ultimatum he set for the terror organization Hamas. Not only did Hamas not meet its commitment but also in its attempt to humiliate the most powerful man in the world."

"We call on Prime Minister Netanyahu to act according to his commitments, which were guaranteed by all the mediators, including Emir of Qatar Mohammed bin Thani, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Once again, the State of Israel, as has been its pattern for the past 11 years, does not learn from systematic past mistakes, 'pays in advance' to the terror organization Hamas for all its demands despite Hamas violating the agreement already in the first stage – to transfer all information on the location of the fallen soldiers, with all necessary efforts to find and return all the fallen."

"The family and the entire public will continue the uncompromising struggle to return to Israel's soil the heroic soldier Lt. Hadar Goldin. We call on the people of Israel to take to the streets and not give up until the return of the last fallen soldier immediately!"

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Over the weekend, Israeli officials warned the mediators that Hamas is deliberately delaying the return of the hostages in order to buy time and reestablish its control over the parts of the Gaza Strip still under its rule. According to intelligence shared with Washington, Hamas has direct access to the deceased, between five and eight hostages.

"Hamas could immediately return five deceased hostages and another three very soon," an Israeli source said, rejecting the group's claim that it needs heavy engineering equipment to locate them. The same source said Hamas is demanding the reopening of the Rafah crossing for the movement of people, as stipulated in the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, and the entry of heavy machinery to aid both in the searches and in reconstruction efforts.

Israel is opposed to reopening Rafah at this stage, viewing the crossing as one of its main bargaining chips. Under the Sharm el-Sheikh agreement, the crossing is to reopen only after Hamas completes the transfer of all the hostages' remains in its possession. During negotiations, the terrorist organization claimed it does not have access to all of them and requested external help from Egypt and Turkey in locating others. Israel, however, has agreed to such assistance only after Hamas returns all the bodies to which it has direct access.

Turkey, for its part, asked to send both engineering equipment and military personnel to take part in the searches, but Israel views this as an attempt to gain a foothold in Gaza and has made it clear that no Turkish troops will be allowed to enter the Strip for any purpose. The United States accepted Israel's position, and both Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Rubio stressed that Israel's consent is required for the composition of any foreign force and for determining the administrative framework for Gaza.

Will the Rafah crossing be opened? 

If additional hostages are returned in the coming days, Israel may consider a partial reopening of the Rafah crossing. The mediators are pressing Israel, via the Americans, to allow this, arguing that the continued closure is delaying talks on the next phase of the Gaza plan, in which Hamas is expected to disarm and hand over governing authority.

Should the crossing reopen, it will be managed on the Gazan side by local Palestinian officials who previously worked under the Palestinian Authority's civil networks and whose names have been approved by Israel. European Union personnel, along with the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security agency, will monitor the crossing through surveillance cameras. Israel will retain authority over all entries and exits to prevent the escape of senior terrorists or the smuggling of weapons and prohibited materials. At present, an IDF force is stationed near the crossing and maintains control of the area.

Humanitarian reconstruction

Meanwhile, in the zones under IDF control, work is accelerating on several humanitarian zones in both southern and northern Gaza. During visits by senior American officials to the international base in Kiryat Gat, Israeli representatives presented plans and progress in building the necessary infrastructure. Bulldozers are leveling large areas to create permanent housing sites for Palestinians, intended to accommodate them until their homes can be rebuilt.

Infrastructure for electricity, water and sewage is being laid, and foundations have been poured for schools and clinics, the most immediate needs. More than 10 countries are taking part in the project, alongside UN agencies that, unusually, are working in full coordination with Israel. The United Arab Emirates is leading the initiative, with Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, several European nations, Canada and the United States also contributing.

In parallel, Palestinian teams are being trained to operate and manage the schools, clinics, utilities and day-to-day administration. The training is conducted on-site by professionals from the participating countries. While the IDF maintains military control over these areas, civilian order is being handled by Palestinian groups, some of which have received Israeli support, until the arrival of the planned multinational force.

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According to the instructions police received, the terror organization may transfer the two at 9:00 p.m. Friday evening to the Red Cross, and from there the bodies will be transferred to Israel.

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Hamas claims it needs engineering equipment to locate the deceased hostages, but Israeli officials say the terrorist organization has access to at least eight more hostages and is stalling in part to enable Turkish experts to enter the Gaza Strip.

Witkoff's arrival comes on the heels of a "60 Minutes" interview with him and Jared Kushner, in which they expressed shock over the recent attack in Doha and said they felt betrayed. Witkoff also said that Trump had felt compelled to rein in actions by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that could have had irreversible consequences. Israel has not issued an official response but senior security officials quoted by Israel Hayom said the US was informed in advance of the attack and was not caught off guard.

Vice President Vance's visit is expected to focus on the implementation details of Phase B, including defining the multinational force set to enter the Gaza Strip, transferring governance from Hamas, and the group's disarmament. Hamas leaders, however, continue to reject the demand to disarm and insist on being part of Gaza's future government.

Rafah crossing will not open?

Witkoff has said he would try to delay punitive Israeli measures, such as keeping the Rafah crossing to Gaza closed, despite ongoing violations by Hamas.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu's office announced Sunday that he had ordered the Rafah crossing to remain closed until further notice. Reopening will be considered only if Hamas fulfills its commitments regarding the return of the deceased hostages and adherence to the agreed framework of the deal, contrary to a Reuters report claiming the crossing would reopen Monday.

According to that report, the Palestinian embassy in Egypt said the crossing would open Monday for the first time since May 2024, allowing Palestinians in Egypt to return to the Gaza Strip.

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In a statement, the families said: "The agreement to bring the hostages home is now being blatantly violated. Our struggle is not over. Eighteen hostages are still in Hamas captivity. Our moral, ethical, and national obligation is to bring them all home, every last one. Their return is a prerequisite for true Israeli recovery and rebuilding."

They continued: "It is our responsibility, the people of Israel, to ensure the full implementation of the deal. Its violation must be met with a firm response by the government and the mediators. We cannot let history repeat itself. A nation that abandons its fallen, abandons its future."

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan Zangauker survived Hamas captivity, opened her remarks with gratitude: "Matan, our Matan, is home. Right now he is sitting in the living room watching you, the people of Israel, with a heart full of thanks." She thanked the public for the determination and faith that "brought her son back," but stressed: "Our struggle is not over, it will end only when every hostage is returned and laid to rest with dignity."

Zangauker sharply criticized the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she held responsible for "the October 7 disaster and the ongoing failure to bring the hostages back." She added: "They are responsible for children being kidnapped from their beds, for soldiers falling again and again in the same places, and for a nightmare that has continued for two years." She called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry and demanded that those responsible "step down and be held accountable."

Orna Neutra, mother of Capt. Omer Neutra, spoke of her son as "a dedicated fighter" raised on the values of mutual responsibility, love of the land, and loyalty to the state. She described the battle in which Omer was critically wounded and said he saved his comrades' lives before being taken to Gaza, where he died from his wounds a week before his 22nd birthday. The family has been waiting for more than two years to bring him home for burial.

She urged the Israeli government and the public to continue fighting for all hostages and fallen Israelis: "A grave for our loved ones is not a right, it is the moral duty of the state." She criticized those trying to erase the hostages from public consciousness and concluded: "We will not rest, we will not be silent until the last hostage is returned. A nation that remembers its living hostages, a nation that brings back its living hostages, the people of Israel live."

Ayelet Goldin, who has fought for 11 years to bring back her brother Hadar, said: "The deal brought 20 miracles, but 18 hostages are currently being abandoned." She warned against the emerging narrative that "everything possible was done." Goldin criticized past agreements and policy decisions that she believes fostered abandonment, citing previous cases as warnings: "The script is already being written."

She called on the public and Israeli citizens not to accept the "we did everything" narrative, and to uphold values and symbols. This, she said, is "the last and hardest battle of all." She stressed that Hadar is still a hostage, that 18 hostages remain in captivity, and issued a clear call: do not fall asleep at the watch, keep fighting until everyone is brought home.

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