Family mourns murdered Thai hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak, awaits return of his body from Gaza

The family of Thai hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak, who was brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, continues to mourn his loss.

The 43-year-old had been working on Kibbutz Be’eri – one of the hardest-hit Israeli border communities – when he was killed. Hamas operatives then abducted his body into Gaza.

His family was first informed in May 2024 that he had been murdered. 

“About 10 days before Oct. 7 was the last time we spoke,” Sudthisak's mother, On, told Ynet News. She revealed that her son had plans to return home to Thailand permanently after saving up money from his work in Israel. 

“We asked him to come home to Thailand for a visit. We hadn’t seen him in many years, ever since he went to Israel for work. He told us he wanted to save a bit more money and then come home for good. Then October 7 happened and he was murdered. I want my son home as soon as possible. I wait for him every day,” she said.

Sudthisak was known among his peers as a dedicated worker in the kibbutz. He was reportedly working in the fields when he was murdered.

Poverty at home drove Sudthisak and many other Thai nationals to seek work in Israel and other countries where the earning potential is significantly higher. 

“Almost every household here has someone who went to work in Israel,” revealed Ratda Gongphat, Sudthisak’s older sister. 

“We also have several relatives of Sudthisak who are currently working in Israel,” she continued. “He was the head of our family and the main breadwinner."

“A polite and well-loved guy with many friends. Everyone here in the village misses him, they ask about him and want to know what’s happening. They’re sad with us. They sit with us, quietly. That’s how we Isan people are,” she explained. 

Rinthalak and Israeli citizen Ran Gvili are the two remaining deceased hostages whose bodies have not yet been returned by Hamas.

Rinthalak’s mother revealed that the family remains in contact with the Israeli Embassy and Thai authorities concerning her deceased son. 

“We’re waiting for news. We’re receiving updates from the Israeli Embassy and from government offices in Thailand. They called us recently to update us on the situation – about Sudthisak and the other hostage who is still in Gaza. We are very grateful to the State of Israel for all the efforts to bring our son home, and to the Thai government for their work on his return. Please continue updating us if there is any more news. We are waiting here for any information about Sudthisak,” she urged.

Itzik Gvili, father of slain Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, recently expressed fears that Hamas would keep his son’s remains for years. 

"We pray of course that he will not be another Ron Arad or [Hadar] Goldin,” Gvili told Kan News, referring to Israeli Air Force aviator Ron Arad, who has been missing since the late 1980s, and Hadar Goldin, an IDF soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza War whose body was returned only last month.

“That we don’t drag it out for many more years,” Gvili said.