2 Thai hostages die in Gaza

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – At least two citizens of Thailand held hostage in Gaza have died, the Southeast Asian nation’s prime minister said.

“I am deeply saddened to learn that the two Thai hostages in Gaza ... are now confirmed deceased,” Srettha Thavisin said Thursday night.

He identified the victims as Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Sudthisak Rinthalak.

Expressing “deepest condolences” to their families, Srettha said the Thai government “will continue to do our utmost to secure the release of the remaining hostages.”

There are around six more Thai citizens among hostages in Palestine's besieged enclave of Gaza.

Thai Foreign Ministry said Israeli government has concluded Oakkharasri and Rinthalak “are deceased, since October 2023.”

Israel launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip after Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack which left nearly 1,200 people dead. More than 200 were taken as hostages.

More than 35,300 Palestinians have since been killed, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and over 79,200 others injured since last October following an attack by Hamas.

The Israeli army launched a limited ground offensive on May 6 in Rafah, with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees estimating that around 600,000 people have fled the city since the start of the attack.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure that its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.