Body of Thai hostage kidnapped into Gaza on Oct. 7 is retrieved in special military operation, Israel says

Israel says it has retrieved the body of a Thai hostage kidnapped and taken into Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, as it continues its military offensive across the strip, killing at least 22 people overnight, according to health officials.

The prime minister's office said Saturday that the body of Thai citizen Nattapong Pinta was returned to Israel in a special military operation. Pinta had come to Israel to work in agriculture. He had a wife and son. 

Pinta was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz and killed in captivity near the start of the war, said the government. His body was retrieved from the Rafah area, Israel's defense minister said.