BANGKOK: Five Thai workers, released after being held hostage for over a year in Gaza, arrived in Bangkok on Sunday (Feb 9).
Sarusak Rumnao, 32, Watchara Sriaoun, 33, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Pongsak Thaenna, 36, and Bannawat Saethao, 27, were freed on Jan 30 as part of an exchange arrangement.
They were the second batch of Thai hostages released since the war broke out.
In a press conference held at Suvarnabhumi Airport shortly after their arrival back in Bangkok, one hostage thanked Thai authorities for their efforts.
“We would not be here today if it wasn’t for the help of every one of you,” said Pongsak Thaenna. “We are deeply grateful and overjoyed to have returned to our homeland once again. There are no words that can describe how thankful we are all.”
Accompanying their arrival was Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, who said both Israeli and Thai governments were working together to pay out compensation and safeguard the hostages’ interests.
“We will work together even more to enhance the conditions of our workers in Israel. I want to see our workers develop their potential to become entrepreneurs, not just remain as labourers,” he said.
During an earlier ceasefire in November 2023, 23 Thai nationals were released in a deal negotiated between Thailand and Hamas, with assistance from Qatar and Iran.
All five men were assessed at a hospital outside Tel Aviv prior to their return.
Four of them were joined by one relative each earlier this week.
The trip was sponsored by the Israeli government, according to the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Hamas militants kidnapped 31 Thai nationals during the Oct 7, 2023 assault on southern Israel, making them the largest group of foreigners held captive.
Many of the Thai agricultural workers lived in compounds on the outskirts of southern Israeli kibbutzim and towns, and Hamas militants overran those places first.
A total of 46 Thais have been killed during the conflict, including two Thai citizens who were killed during the attack and their bodies taken into Gaza, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
There was no immediate information available about Nattapong Pingsa, who is the last Thai hostage left in Gaza, nor the two Thai workers whose bodies were taken into Gaza.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sagniampongsa traveled to Israel to visit the five freed men shortly after their release.
Maris met with his Israeli counterparts seeking support to secure the release of the remaining Thai hostage and retrieve the bodies of the two deceased Thais.
Thai workers remain the largest group of foreign agricultural laborers in Israel.
The countries implemented a bilateral agreement a decade ago specifically easing the way for Thai agricultural workers.
Many Palestinian workers had since returned, and before the Hamas attack about half of Israel’s workforce was made up of foreign and Palestinian laborers.