After completing the identification process by the National Center for Forensic Medicine, in cooperation with the Israel Police and the Military Rabbinate: IDF representatives informed the family of the abductee Sontaya Okarsari today (Sunday) that their loved one has been returned to Israel and his official identification has been completed.
This leaves 16 hostages dead in the Gaza Strip.
Sontaya, 30 years old from Thailand, worked in the orchards of Kibbutz Be'eri. According to intelligence information in the possession of security officials, the late Sontaya was murdered by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7, 2023, while working in the orchards of Kibbutz Be'eri, and his body was abducted to the Gaza Strip.
His death was officially set for May 16, 2024.
He was a father of a seven-year-old daughter who dreamed of returning home and building a farm for himself in Thailand. His work contract in Israel was set to end in October 2023.
He worked for eight years as an agricultural laborer on kibbutzim in Israel - first in the north, and then in Bari. He was a quiet man, focused on his work, but maintained daily contact with his mother, Amorn, and his little daughter, Kaimuk.
Okarsari was among the dozens of foreign workers murdered in the terrorist attack on Kibbutz Be'eri.
The Prime Minister's Office said: "The Israeli government shares in the deep sorrow of the Okkarsri family, the Thai people, and all the families of the deceased hostages.
""The government and the entire Israeli security apparatus are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for a proper burial in their country.".
""The Hamas terrorist organization is required to fulfill its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the implementation of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all the deceased hostages, down to the last one.".
""May his memory be blessed.".
Earlier today, Kibbutz Nir Oz announced that the body of Ronen Engel, who was kidnapped and murdered on October 7, had been returned to the territory of the State of Israel.
The kibbutz's statement said: "Today, the circle of the Engel family, almost entirely kidnapped on October 7, has closed.".
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