TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel announced on Saturday that they successfully brought back the body of a Thai hostage who was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip during the Hamas-led assault that initiated the conflict. At the same time, the Israeli military continued its operation, resulting in the death of at least 95 individuals within the last day, as reported by Gaza’s health ministry.
The body of Nattapong Pinta was rescued through a specialized military mission and returned to Israel. Pinta had traveled to Israel for agricultural work and was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz, meeting his demise early in the conflict that commenced on October 7, 2023.
The foreign ministry of Thailand confirmed the unfortunate passing of the final Thai captive in Gaza and indicated that efforts to retrieve the bodies of the other two hostages are ongoing.
Fifty-five hostages remain in Gaza. Israel says more than half are dead. Families were rallying again Saturday evening in Israel, calling for a ceasefire deal that would bring everyone home.
Israel’s defense minister said that Pinta’s body was retrieved from the Rafah area in southern Gaza. The army said that he was seized by the Mujahideen Brigades, the small armed group that also took two Israeli-American hostages, Judith Weinstein and Gad Haggai, whose bodies were retrieved on Thursday.
Thais were the largest group of foreigners held captive by Hamas militants. Many of the agricultural workers lived on the outskirts of southern Israeli kibbutzim and towns, and Hamas militants overran those places first. A total of 46 Thais have been killed during the war, according to Thailand’s foreign ministry.
Separately, Hamas issued an unusual warning about another hostage, Matan Zangauker, saying Israel’s military had surrounded the area where he’s being held and that any harm that came to him during a rescue attempt would be Israel’s responsibility. Israel’s military didn’t immediately comment.
Israel continues its military offensive
Four Israeli strikes hit the Muwasi area in southern Gaza between Rafah and Khan Younis. In northern Gaza, one strike hit an apartment, killing seven people including a mother and five children. Their bodies were taken to Shifa hospital
“Stand up, my love,” one weeping woman said, touching the shrouded bodies.
Another strike in Gaza City killed six members of a family, including two children, according to the Shifa and al-Ahli hospitals.
Israel said that it was responding to Hamas’ “barbaric attacks” and dismantling its capabilities. It said it takes all feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.
Reports say some of the dead tried to get food aid
Staff at Nasser hospital, which received the bodies of six people over the past 24 hours, said that they were killed while on their way to get food aid. Much of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies on aid after widespread destruction of agriculture and markets as well as a recent Israeli blockade. Experts have warned of famine.
Israel’s army said that despite warnings that the aid distribution area is an active combat zone during nighttime hours, several suspects attempted to approach troops operating in the Tel al-Sultan area overnight “in a manner that posed a threat.” The army said that troops called out, but as the suspects continued advancing, they fired warning shots.
An army official who couldn’t be named in line with military procedures said that the shots were fired about a kilometer (half-mile) from the distribution site.
Over the past two weeks, shootings have occurred frequently near the new hubs where thousands of desperate Palestinians are being directed to collect food. Witnesses say nearby Israeli troops have opened fire, and more than 80 people have been killed, according to Gaza hospital officials. Israel’s military has said that it fired warning shots or, in some instances, at individuals approaching troops.
The hubs are run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a new group of mainly American contractors. Israel wants GHF to replace humanitarian groups in Gaza that distribute aid in coordination with the United Nations.
A GHF spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with the group’s rules, said that it didn’t feed Gaza residents on Saturday and blamed Hamas threats. There was no immediate Hamas response.
Israel accuses Hamas of siphoning off aid under the U.N.-led system. The U.N. and aid groups deny there’s significant diversion of aid to militants and say the new system – which they have rejected – allows Israel to use food as a weapon, violates humanitarian principles and won’t be effective.
The U.N says it has been unable to distribute much aid under its own system because of Israeli military restrictions on movements and insecurity.
Separately, Palestinians lined up at a soup kitchen in Gaza City for handouts on the second day of Eid al-Adha.
“I have been standing here for more than an hour and a half. I feel I have a sunstroke, and I am in need,” said the waiting Farida al-Sayed, who said she had six people to feed. “I only had lentils, and I ran out of them.”
Death tolls since the war began
Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages. Most were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages and recovered dozens of bodies.
Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. The offensive has destroyed large parts of Hamas-run Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians.
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Mohammad Jahjouh reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip. Bassem Mroue contributed to this report from Beirut.
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