A solemn ceremony took place at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. It marked the beginning of the journey to bring home the body of Natthapong Pinta, a Thai national who died in Gaza.
The Thai ambassador and labor officials attended the ceremony. They were joined by Israeli officials, including Moshe Arbel, the interior minister, and Gal Hirsch, the coordinator for hostages and missing persons.
Both sides paid their respects to the deceased. They laid wreaths and expressed deep sorrow over Natthapong’s death.
Natthapong’s body will be flown back to Thailand on an El Al flight. It is scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport on June 11. From there, it will be taken to his hometown in Phrae for a religious ceremony.
The Thai embassy has been working closely with the Israeli government to ensure the safe return of Thai nationals who died in the conflict. So far, 45 bodies have been sent back to Thailand.
These include 39 people who died in an incident on October 7, 2023, and five who died in a separate incident in northern Israel. Natthapong was the only Thai hostage to die in Gaza.
The embassy is still working to locate the bodies of two other Thai hostages who died in Gaza. They will continue to work with the Israeli authorities to bring them home.
Details of the Ceremony
The ceremony was attended by:
- Waraporn Kanjanawong, the Thai deputy ambassador
- Kitthana Srisuriya, the labor counselor
- Moshe Arbel, the Israeli interior minister
- Gal Hirsch, the Israeli coordinator for hostages and missing persons
Next Steps
The Thai embassy will continue to work with the Israeli authorities to:
- Locate the bodies of the two remaining Thai hostages
- Bring them home to Thailand
- Provide support to Thai nationals affected by the conflict