Only one hostage’s remains are still in Gaza after Israeli authorities said Thai officials confirmed the identity of another body recently turned over by Hamas.
The deceased hostage, Sudthisak Rinthalak, was a Thai farmworker taken by Hamas from the orchard where he worked and killed during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks, Israeli Defense Forces announced on social media. His remains were confirmed by authorities on Thursday.
Only the remains of National Counter-Terrorism Unit officer and Israeli police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, also killed after being taken on October 7, have yet to be returned, the prime minister’s office said Thursday in a statement.
The fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel has so far held off major engagements despite multiple small skirmishes between the two sides, as the slow implementation of President Donald Trump’s peace plan continues. It remains unclear whether Hamas will commit to disarming and relinquishing power over the Gaza Strip, despite increasing pressure from Arab allies.
Israel is also set to reopen the Rafah crossing from the Gaza Strip to Egypt as the final remains of hostages are being returned. Israel has stated that Palestinians returning to Gaza will only have access to the reopened crossing once all the hostages or their remains are returned.
Trump’s peace plan calls for an international governing authority over Gaza headed by Palestinian technocrats, and for an International Stabilizing Force of soldiers from neighboring Arab states. However, many Gazans fear that Hamas won’t fully honor Trump’s plan based on its actions since accepting the deal, including the terror group’s public executions of rivals and those it accused of betrayal.
Hamas handed back all living hostages, but sporadic skirmishes with Israel have cast doubts on the sincerity of the terror group’s willingness to commit to disarmament. Hamas has repeatedly punted on the issue, saying in its initial agreement to the deal in October that any discussion of new governance would require “Palestinian national consensus and Arab and Islamic support.”
The Israeli Prime Minister’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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