BEER YAAKOV, Israel — The mother of one of the Thai hostages freed from the Gaza Strip expressed shock when she first saw her son on a Facebook livestream after his release on Thursday. Khammee Lamnao, the mother of Surasak Rumnao, 32, noted the visible changes in his appearance; he seemed pale and unnaturally puffy after being abducted from the southern Israeli town of Yesha during the conflict on October 7, 2023. “I was so happy that I could not eat anything. His father brought some food to me, but I did not want to eat at all,” she shared during a video call.
On Thursday, a wave of jubilation filled the air as numerous Israeli doctors, nurses, and officials from both Israel and Thailand gathered to welcome five Thai hostages who had just disembarked from a military helicopter. They were taken to a hospital near Tel Aviv for a few days of medical evaluations and recovery. Besides Surasak, the other members of the group included Watchara Sriaoun, 33; Sathian Suwannakham, 35; Pongsak Thaenna, 36; and Bannawat Saethao, 27. In a related development, three Israeli individuals were also released that day, while Israel authorized the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners as part of the exchange.
The plight of the Thai nationals began when Hamas militants abducted 31 individuals during their assault on southern Israel, making it the largest group of foreigners taken captive. Many of these Thai agricultural workers resided in facilities located on the borders of southern Israeli towns and kibbutzim, which were the primary targets for the militants. Earlier, in a ceasefire deal in November 2023, negotiations led to the release of 23 Thai nationals, aided by Qatar and Iran.
As detailed by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conflict has claimed the lives of 46 Thai nationals, with two fatalities occurring on October 7, 2023, whose remains were brought into Gaza. Dr. Osnat Levzion-Korach, the head of Shamir Medical Center where the five were taken, stated they were in “fair” health, although their extended time underground prevented them from receiving adequate sunlight. Despite this, they did not appear malnourished, a testament to their youth and resilience during captivity.
Pannabha Chandraramya, Thailand’s ambassador to Israel, facilitated emotional video calls between the released hostages and their families after they were admitted to the hospital. Describing the moments as thrilling, she said, “It was one of the happiest days of my life,” especially as it coincided with her final week in office after five years of service.
While Pannabha noted there was no immediate update on the status of the last Thai hostage remaining in Gaza, Nattapong Pingsa, or the remains of the two Thai workers captured, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed gratitude towards Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, the U.S., Israel, and the Red Cross for their roles in negotiating the hostages’ release. She mentioned plans for her foreign affairs minister to visit Israel over the weekend.
Ambassador Pannabha confirmed that the Thai government is considering bringing some family members of the released hostages to Israel, although many lack passports. The government also aims to assist the released individuals in returning home as soon as they get medical clearance to travel.
Israel will categorize the released Thai hostages as terror victims, a status that grants them access to various financial benefits and healthcare, according to Alex Gandler, a deputy spokesperson for Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Gandler added that Israel’s ambassador in Thailand visited some of the hostages freed during a previous ceasefire deal. He reassured that the Israeli government is maintaining contact with the released individuals. Since the Thais did not have family present for their welcome, several former employers came to greet them at the hospital.
Gandler reiterated Israel’s commitment to securing the release of all hostages regardless of nationality. Currently, there remains one Thai, one Nepali, and one Tanzanian hostage, along with the bodies of a Tanzanian and the two Thais still in Gaza. As negotiations continue, Israel is hopeful that discussions regarding the fate of all international hostages—both living and deceased—will take place next week.
