The IDF and Shin Bet recovered the body of the hostage, the late Natpong Pinta, from the Rafah area.

In a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet, the body of the late Natpong Pinta, a Thai citizen, was recovered yesterday (Friday) from the Rafah area in the Gaza Strip.

Natpong Pinta was kidnapped alive by terrorists from the Kataeb al-Mujahideen terrorist organization from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, and murdered in captivity by terrorists from the cruel terrorist organization.

The special operation was carried out by a joint force of Shin Bet personnel & IDF forces in the Southern Command, led by the Gaza Division.

The operation was made possible thanks to accurate intelligence received from the Shin Bet investigation of a terrorist operative, which led to the activity of locating and recovering the body, alongside intelligence received from the Kidnappers' Command and the Intelligence Division.

After an identification process conducted at the National Center for Forensic Medicine, together with the Israel Police, the hostage team in the Human Resources Division, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Coordinator of Captives and Missing Persons Gal Hirsch, delivered the message to the family, the State of Thailand, and the Nir Oz community.

The IDF and Shin Bet share in the family's grief.

The murderous terrorist organization Kata'ab al-Mujahideen kidnapped, held, and murdered Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, who were returned as part of the latest hostage deal, as well as the bodies of Gad Hagai and Judy Lynn Weinstein, who were returned this week.

The terrorist organization Kata'ib al-Mujahideen murdered and is holding the body of another foreign citizen.

The IDF and Shin Bet will continue to use all means to recover him and all the hostages.