PUBLISHED : 22 Oct 2025 at 21:22
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A man places a wreath on the coffin of Sonthaya Oakkharasri, a Thai worker who was killed by Hamas in the Oct 7, 2023, attack on Israel, during a memorial ceremony before he is returned to Thailand, at Ben Gurion Airport in Lod, Israel on Oct 22, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
The body of one of two Thai workers slain by Hamas is expected to arrive in Thailand on Thursday from Israel, while the other body is still being sought in the Gaza Strip, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.
The body of Sonthaya Oakkharasri, 30, an agricultural worker at Kibbutz Be’eri, was recently retrieved from the Gaza Strip after Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement on Oct 13.
The ministry said Sonthaya’s body would arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport via El Al Airlines flight LY083 at 4.35pm.
Sonthaya, the father of a seven-year-old girl, was killed in the Hamas attack on the kibbutz on Oct 7, 2023, the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a Facebook post on Oct 19.
His body had been held in Gaza for more than two years. Israel confirmed his death on May 16, 2024.
That leaves one remaining body of a Thai labourer yet to be retrieved.
The Israeli embassy in Thailand said the remaining body had been identified as Sudthisak Rinthalak.
Nong Khai native Sudthisak, 43, also worked at Kibbutz Be’eri. He was killed in the Oct 7 attack and his body taken to Gaza. His death was confirmed by Israel in May 2024. He was divorced and childless and had worked in Israel since 2017.
The embassy reiterated the Israeli government’s commitment to return his body to Thailand.
“Israel profoundly appreciates the dedication of Thai workers, who play a significant role in the country’s agriculture sector,” it said in a statement.
“The entire nation of Israel empathises deeply and mourns together with the family of Sonthaya.
“He will always be remembered. The State of Israel remains committed to bringing the body of Sudthisak Rinthalak, the last Thai hostage, to his homeland.”