Israel confirms identity of captive remains returned by Hamas; one body still in Gaza

BEIT HANOUN – 4 December 2025: Israel on Thursday confirmed that the remains transferred by Hamas a day earlier belong to Thai farm worker Sudthisak Rinthalak, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office.

Meanwhile, the body of Israeli police officer Ran Gvili, the final living and dead captive yet to be recovered, remains in Gaza.

The return of the last captive’s body would complete the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the two-year war in Gaza, a step Washington says is essential before advancing to the next stage of the initiative.

Hamas has released all 20 living captives and 27 bodies it held in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian detainees.

Under phase two of the plan, Israel forces would withdraw from its positions in Gaza and Hamas would disarm as a new multinational force assumes responsibility and a global board headed by Trump supervise a Palestinian technocratic government.