Israeli Army Identifies Remains Received from Gaza as Thai Hostage; Five Killed in Airstrikes on Tents Near Khan Younis

The Israeli Army announced today, Thursday, the identification of the remains of the second-to-last hostage held in Gaza as a Thai national named Sudthisak Rinthalaek (42), who was killed during the October 7, 2023, attack and whose body was taken to the Strip.

The Army stated that "Following the completion of the identification process... representatives of the IDF and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the family of Sudthisak Rinthalaek of the recovery of his body for burial." The last remaining body in the Strip is that of Israeli policeman Ran Gvili. The handover of the last hostage's body is a fundamental condition for the first phase of US President Donald Trump's plan to end the two-year war. Hamas agreed to hand over all hostages (alive and deceased) under the October agreement, releasing 20 live hostages and the remains of 27 others, in exchange for the release of about 2,000 Palestinian detainees.

Escalation in Khan Younis and Rafah Crossing Opening:

1. Bombing and Clashes in Southern Gaza:

• The Gaza Civil Defence announced the killing of five Palestinians, including two children, following Israeli airstrikes on shelter tents in the Mawasi Khan Younis area (near the Kuwaiti Hospital) on Wednesday night, causing serious injuries.

• Hamas described the bombing as a "documented war crime and contempt for the ceasefire agreement" which took effect seven weeks ago, holding Israel fully responsible for the escalation.

• The Israeli Army responded by saying it carried out an attack in Khan Younis targeting a "Hamas terrorist" after its soldiers came under fire and following a prior attack in Rafah that injured five Israeli soldiers.

• The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that the death toll since the war began has risen to 70,117, mostly children and women, with 170,999 injuries.

2. Rafah Crossing Opening for Departure:

• COGAT (the Israeli military body responsible for crossings) announced that the Rafah Crossing will open in the coming days to allow Palestinians, particularly those needing treatment (16,500 patients according to the UN), to cross into Egypt.

• COGAT confirmed the decision was made in "full coordination" with the mediators (Egypt, Qatar, US) and under the supervision of a European Union mission, similar to the mechanism used in January 2025.

• The crossing has been almost completely closed throughout the war, despite being the only direct exit for most Gazans to the outside world and a key entry point for aid.