The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has confirmed the recovery of another deceased Thai national from Gaza, one of the last two Thai citizens whose remains had yet to be found following the Hamas attacks on Oct 7, 2023.
Identity verification is currently underway before the repatriation of the body to Thailand. The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to working with Israeli authorities to secure the return of the final remaining Thai national’s body.
MFA spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura said on Monday that Hamas had handed over one of the hostage bodies from Gaza following the peace deal between Israel and Hamas on Oct 13.
On Sunday morning, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv received an initial report from Israeli authorities confirming the discovery of the body of a Thai worker, who had been missing since the October 2023 attacks. Later that day, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced via Facebook that one of the two unrecovered Thai workers had been identified as Sonthaya Oakkharasri, 30, an agricultural worker at Kibbutz Be’eri.
According to the MFA, the Israeli forensic agency will confirm Sonthaya’s identity. Once confirmed, the Thai embassy will coordinate the repatriation process immediately.
Mr Nikorndej extended the ministry’s deepest condolences to Sonthaya’s family, adding that officials will provide full assistance after a wait of more than two years. He reaffirmed that Thailand will continue working closely with Israel to ensure every affected Thai national is identified, honoured, and brought home with dignity.