Five Thai nationals detained in captivity by Hamas for more than a year have returned to Thailand on Sunday, finding their families in tears at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport.
The returnees, dressed in winter jackets, met with emotional embraces of their family.
“We are all deeply touched to return to our birthplace … to stand here,” said Pongsak Thaenna, one of the returnees. “I don’t know what to say else, we are all really grateful.”
Sarusak Rumnao, 32, Watchara Sriaoun, 33, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Pongsak Thaenna, 36, and Bannawat Saethao, 27, were released last Thursday as part of an exchange arrangement.
The five men were evaluated in a hospital outside Tel Aviv before their return. The trip was sponsored by the Israeli government, according to the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv.
According to Israeli authorities, Hamas activists have removed at least 240 people, including Israelis and foreign nationals during an attack in October 2023 in southern Israel. During the attack, the armed men of Hamas killed 41 Thai and kidnapped 30 Thai workers. Later that year, the first Thai hostage group was returned.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiamponga, who escorted the hostages of Israel, expressed his relief on their return. “It’s emotional … to come back to the embrace of their families,” he said. “We never gave up and it was the fruit of that.”
Before the conflict, around 30,000 Thai citizens worked in the agricultural sector of Israel, making it one of the largest groups of migrant workers in the country. Nearly 9,000 Thai were repatriated as a result of the attack.
The workers come mainly from the northeast region of Thailand, an area including villages and agricultural communities which is among the poorest in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand said that a Thai national, Nattapong Pinga, is still held by Hamas.
“We always have hope and continue to work to bring them back,” said Maris, adding that this understands the bodies of two deceased Thai nationals.
Hamas released 3 Israels and five Thai nationals in a situation of transferring chaotic hostages to Gaza, which prompted Israel to briefly delay the release of more than 100 Palestinian prisoners.
