Israeli and Thai officials gathered at Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday for an emotional farewell ceremony as the remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak were finally flown home to Thailand, more than two years after he was killed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
“One of Ours”#
Israel’s hostage envoy Gal Hirsch expressed deep sorrow during the ceremony, apologizing to Rinthalak and his family.
“It shouldn’t have ended this way,” Hirsch said. “We failed to protect you; it took too long to bring you back home.”
Calling Rinthalak “one of us,” Hirsch added, “You are now heading back home, we will never, never forget you.”
The 43-year-old agricultural worker was murdered at Kibbutz Be’eri during the Hamas onslaught. His remains were returned to Israel from Gaza on December 3 and identified by Israeli authorities the following day.
Thai Ambassador Pays Tribute#
Thai Ambassador to Israel Boonyarit Vichienpuntu said that, like many Thai workers, Rinthalak crossed the ocean with a determination to make a better life for his loved ones.
The ambassador added that the Thai government is praying for the return of the last Israeli hostage, police officer Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, to bring an end to this mournful period and allow for full implementation of the ceasefire agreement.
Family Watches From Thailand#
Rinthalak’s family - his parents Thong Ma and Orn, and his older brother Thepporn - watched the ceremony live from their home in Thailand. Rinthalak was divorced and had no children.
Israel’s Ambassador to Thailand, Alona Fisher-Kamm, spoke about the strong bonds between the two countries and their solidarity during the past two years of war.
“Always Smiling, Always Ready”#
Boaz Cohen, a resident of Kibbutz Sa’ad who employed Rinthalak at an agricultural company serving various kibbutz communities, shared his memories.
“He was one of ours,” Cohen told The Times of Israel. “He was a great guy, always smiling, always ready to do whatever was necessary.”
Cohen had six Thai workers taken captive from his staff during the October 7 attacks.
The Last Foreign Hostage#
With Rinthalak’s return, all foreign hostages from the October 7 attacks have now been accounted for. Of the 251 people taken hostage, 35 were foreign nationals.
Josh Lawson, who headed the medical desk at the Prime Minister’s Office for hostages and served as liaison to the Gaza envelope communities, addressed the ceremony.
“Every Israeli can now say your name, Sudthisak,” Lawson said. “You were one of the last murdered hostages. Your story became clear, a painful beacon to us all.”
He noted that Rinthalak’s family will receive all benefits given to families of terrorist victims.
“If you come into Israel legally and are hurt in a terrorist attack, you will get, down to a shekel, what an Israeli from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem will get, for life,” Lawson explained.
The ceremony was held at the 8th Armored Brigade Memorial at Ben Gurion Airport, which has served as the backdrop for similar ceremonies honoring foreign workers killed on October 7 before their bodies were returned to their home countries.
Thailand’s Heavy Toll#
Thailand suffered one of the heaviest tolls among foreign nations on October 7. Of the 39 Thai nationals killed during the Hamas attack, Rinthalak was among the last to be returned home.
Source: The Times of Israel
