Israeli Forces Recover Body of Thai Hostage Nattapong Pinta in Gaza Operation

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Nattapong Pinta, a married father of a young son, left his family in Thailand to work in the avocado and pomegranate fields of Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small agricultural community near the Gaza border, to pay off debts and support his wife’s dream of opening a coffee shop. Known as “Nick” on his Facebook page, Pinta was among the 31 Thai nationals working in agriculture who were kidnapped during the October 7 attack, which saw Hamas-led militants kill approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abduct 251 hostages, including many migrant workers from Asia. At Kibbutz Nir Oz alone, 47 people were killed, and 76 were taken hostage, making it one of the hardest-hit communities in the assault.

On the morning of the attack, Pinta called his wife, Narissara Chanthasang, to report gunfire and said he was trying to flee. That was the last his family heard from him, leaving them in agonizing uncertainty for 20 months. The IDF believes Pinta was abducted alive by the Mujahideen Brigades, a relatively small terror group responsible for the abduction and murder of other hostages, including Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, as well as Israeli-American couple Gadi Haggai and Judih Weinstein, whose bodies were recovered from Khan Younis earlier that week.

Intelligence gathered from the interrogation of a Palestinian detainee led the IDF to Pinta’s body in Rafah, where it was retrieved and identified at Israel’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine. His family in Thailand and the Thai government were notified, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar informing his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa, of the operation’s details. A ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport is planned before Pinta’s remains are returned to Thailand.

The recovery of Pinta’s body has drawn heartfelt reactions from both Israeli and international communities. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum expressed solidarity with Pinta’s family, stating, “While the pain is immense, his family will finally have certainty after 20 terrible and agonizing months of devastating uncertainty. Every family deserves such certainty to begin their personal healing journey.”

Kibbutz Nir Oz, where Pinta was remembered as a diligent and cherished worker, issued a statement sharing the family’s grief and pledging ongoing support. Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with users describing Pinta as a “hardworking and beloved man” and condemning the cruelty of his captors. One post highlighted the tragedy of his death, noting, “Nattapong wasn’t Jewish or Israeli. He was Thai, working in agriculture to support his wife and kid.”

Pinta’s death shows the plight of Thai migrant workers, who form the largest group of foreign nationals affected by the October 7 attack. According to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 46 Thais have been killed in the conflict, and five Thai hostages were released alive during a ceasefire in January 2025. Pinta was believed to be the last Thai national still held in Gaza, and his recovery leaves 55 hostages remaining in the Strip, of whom approximately 20 are thought to be alive.

The operation to recover Pinta’s body comes amid ongoing Israeli military efforts in Gaza, which have drawn international attention. On the same day, Palestinian media reported 38 deaths from Israeli strikes, including incidents near aid distribution sites, highlighting the broader humanitarian crisis in the region. The IDF maintains that it targets terror operatives, such as Mahmoud Kaheel, a senior Mujahideen Brigades member killed in a separate strike, and operates under international law to minimize civilian harm.