Five Thai workers, who had been held hostage in Gaza for over a year, arrived in Bangkok on Sunday following their release.
The freed individuals—Sarusak Rumnao, 32, Watchara Sriaoun, 33, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Pongsak Thaenna, 36, and Bannawat Saethao, 27—were released on January 30 as part of an exchange arrangement.
They were warmly received by emotional family members in the arrivals hall at Suvarnabhumi Airport, with some relatives shedding tears of relief. Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sagniampongsa and Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv were also present to welcome them home.
“We are all very grateful and very happy to be back in our homeland. We sincerely appreciate everything that was done for us. I don’t even know how to express my gratitude,” Pongsak said during a news conference at the airport.
Foreign Minister Maris emphasized that the Thai government “never lost hope, and today we see the result. These tears of joy strengthen our resolve.” He further assured that efforts would continue to secure the release of the remaining Thai hostage.
Shortly after the news conference, the freed hostages left the airport to reunite with their families in their hometowns in Thailand’s northern and northeastern regions.
This marks the second group of Thai hostages to be released since the outbreak of war. In a previous ceasefire deal in November 2023, 23 Thai nationals were freed through negotiations facilitated by Thailand, Hamas, Qatar, and Iran.
Thai Workers Held in Gaza Return
Before their return, all five men underwent medical assessments at a hospital outside Tel Aviv. Earlier this week, four of them were joined by one relative each, with their travel arrangements covered by the Israeli government, as confirmed by the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Hamas militants had taken 31 Thai nationals hostage during their assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, making them the largest group of foreign captives.
Many Thai agricultural workers resided in compounds on the outskirts of southern Israeli kibbutzim and towns—areas that were among the first to be overrun during the attack.
According to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 46 Thai nationals have lost their lives in the conflict, including two whose bodies were taken into Gaza.
There was no immediate update on the last remaining Thai hostage, Nattapong Pingsa, or the two deceased Thai workers still in Gaza.
Following the hostages’ release, Foreign Minister Maris traveled to Israel to meet with them and discuss ongoing efforts with Israeli officials to secure the release of the last Thai hostage and recover the bodies of the two deceased individuals.
Thailand continues to have a significant presence in Israel’s agricultural sector, with Thai workers forming the largest group of foreign laborers in the industry.
A bilateral agreement, established a decade ago, facilitated their employment in Israel. While many Palestinian workers have since left, prior to the Hamas attack, nearly half of Israel’s workforce consisted of both foreign and Palestinian laborers.
