Thai hostages freed after weeks of detention by Hamas in Gaza have expressed relief after returning to Bangkok, where they were welcomed home by delighted relatives.
A group of 17 Thai nationals arrived on a flight from Israel on Thursday after the Foreign Ministry in Bangkok and Thai Muslim groups negotiated their release.
At least 32 Thais were kidnapped by Hamas fighters during their attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping around 240 others, according to Israeli authorities.
At least 39 Thais were killed in the attack, according to the Thai government.
When the group of freed captives arrived at Bangkok airport, they called for a minute’s silence to mourn the Thais killed in the attack.
“I am saddened by the deaths of my 39 colleagues and I would like everyone to take a moment to mourn their loss,” the group’s representative, Uthai Saengnuan, told reporters.
Returnees lined up, some wearing shirts with the Thai and Israeli flags.
Pornsawan Pinakalo, who was working on a potato farm when he was kidnapped, told reporters he wanted all Thai captives to be released. At least nine other Thai nationals are detained in Gaza.
“It would be better if all our friends could come back,” he said.
“When I was there, I tried not to think too much about what might happen, because I was sad not to see my family again. »
Before the war between Israel and Hamas, around 30,000 Thai workers worked in the agricultural sector, making the group one of Israel’s largest migrant worker groups.
Since the start of the war, 9,000 Thais have been repatriated.
“All Thais were worried about you,” Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told the returnees via video call as they gathered for the news conference at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Thai migrant workers in Israel mainly come from the Southeast Asian country’s rural northeast, seeking higher wages to return home to their families.
Family members greeted their loved ones at the airport and expressed relief upon their return.
“I followed the news. At first, when his name did not appear on the hostage, I was shocked at the idea that he would be dead,” Pornsawan’s mother, Lumpong Pinakalo, 51, told AFP.
She urged the families of the nine Thais still detained in Gaza to stay positive.
“If your child has been designated as a hostage, I would tell you to have faith, because there is still hope.”
Nattawaree Moolkan, the only woman among the Thai hostages, cried, saying: “Thank you for all your encouragement. »
Reporting from Bangkok, Tel Aviv Tribune’s Jessica Washington said the Thai government was focused on its efforts to bring back the remaining Thai nationals detained in Gaza.
“Bangkok is working with Qatar, Malaysia and other countries to secure their release,” she said, adding that the government had asked journalists not to question the group about their conditions of detention.
Extension of the truce between Israel and Hamas
Ten of the hostages were freed last Friday, as a truce began after weeks of negotiations brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States. Seven more were released by Hamas in the days that followed.
The group recovered in a hospital in Israel as authorities prepared to repatriate them home, Thai officials said.
“The support of friends and allies helped secure the release of the Thai hostages,” Foreign Minister Pranpree Bahiddha-Nukara told reporters, adding that the government would continue its efforts to secure the release of those remaining in Gaza.
Pranpree said he had held talks with his counterparts from several Middle Eastern countries with contacts with Hamas. He had previously visited Cairo and Doha for talks.
A Thai Muslim group that has held direct talks with Hamas said its efforts were crucial to securing the rapid release of the Thai hostages. On the first day of the truce between Israel and Hamas, 10 Thai hostages were released unconditionally.
Six more Thais were released on Tuesday and Wednesday and were undergoing medical examinations, the Foreign Ministry said, bringing the total number of those released to 23, nine of whom remain in captivity.
After the Hamas attack, Israel launched a massive campaign of aerial, artillery and naval bombardments alongside a ground offensive on Gaza, killing more than 15,000 people, mostly civilians, according to Palestinian officials.
