In a somber development, Israel took possession of a coffin on Wednesday, believed to hold the remains of one of the last two deceased hostages from Gaza. This transfer marks a significant moment in the ongoing saga of hostages taken during a violent conflict.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the event on their social media platform, X, stating, “The coffin of the deceased hostage, escorted by IDF troops, crossed the border into the State of Israel a short while ago and is on its way to the National Institute for Forensic Medicine, where identification procedures will be carried out.”
This coffin, conveyed through the Red Cross, likely contains the remains of either Ran Gvili or Sudthisak Rinthalak, whose families have been enduring an excruciating wait for closure.
Images of the two men, Gvili and Rinthalak, have been prominently displayed in public demonstrations, such as a recent gathering at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. These events underscore the emotional toll on families and communities still hoping for the return of their loved ones.
Gvili’s story is particularly poignant. On October 7, 2023, he was meant to be resting due to a shoulder injury. However, when a crisis erupted, Gvili, a dedicated police officer in a counter-terrorism unit, chose to join the fight, ultimately sacrificing his life near Kibbutz Alumim. His body was taken into Gaza and has been held there for nearly 790 days.
Talik Gvili, Ran’s mother, has shared her anguish and hope in a heartfelt op-ed for Fox News. “When this nightmare began, there were 255 hostages. Their families became one big family. We held each other through every unbearable moment. Every time someone returned, there was a feeling that part of us came back,” she wrote. She expressed the fear and desperation of being among the last, saying, “I’m terrified that after bringing so many home, my Ran will be left behind. There’s this crushing feeling I can’t shake: when is our turn?”
A drone view shows participants holding a large banner during a rally held by hostage families and supporters at “Hostages Square” to demand the immediate release of the bodies of the deceased hostages. (Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters)
Rinthalak, a 43-year-old Thai national, was working in agriculture in Israel to support his family in Thailand when he was killed during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and his body was taken into Gaza. His family told Israeli news outlet Ynet that he said he would be coming home for good once he saved a bit more money.
“About 10 days before October 7 was the last time we spoke,” Rinthalak’s mother, On, told Ynet. “We asked him to come home to Thailand for a visit. We hadn’t seen him in many years, ever since he went to Israel for work. He told us he wanted to save a bit more money and then come home for good. Then October 7 happened and he was murdered. I want my son home as soon as possible. I wait for him every day.”
People hold paper cutouts of dead hostages Ran Gvili and Sudthisak Rinthalak at a rally where Israelis called for their immediate return. (Nir Elias/Reuters)
On Tuesday, Israel received remains that were tested and confirmed to not belong to either Gvili or Rinthalak, The Times of Israel reported. The outlet noted that a senior Red Cross official said the findings it handed over to the IDF included “small remains, pieces” of a body.
