BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday it was "deeply saddened" by the death of a Thai hostage in Gaza whose body was retrieved by Israeli forces.
Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura said in a video statement the ministry "is deeply saddened to announce that today, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv was informed by a representative of the Israeli government that Mr Nattapong Pinta, the last Thai hostage, has been confirmed dead."
An Israeli military statement, which gave his name as Natthapong Pinta, said on Saturday its forces retrieved his body from the Rafah area of southern Gaza.
It said he was taken alive as a hostage during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and "was murdered while in captivity".
The Israeli military statement blamed the Mujahideen Brigades, an armed group close to Hamas ally Islamic Jihad.
Nikorndej said Nattapong was one of three Thais held hostage in Gaza. The other two were confirmed dead in 2024 but Nikorndej said Israel has "not yet been able to retrieve their corpses".
He said the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv has contacted Nattapong's family to inform them and would work with the Israeli side to return his body to Thailand as soon as possible.
Nikorndej said the ministry "expresses its deepest condolences to Nattapong's family". - AFP
