What caused a large number of Thai farmers to be among the hostages taken by Hamas?

BANGKOK — On Sunday, five Thai citizens who had been held captive by Hamas since the group’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, safely returned to Thailand.

These individuals were part of a larger group of 31 Thai nationals taken hostage during the conflict, with 23 having been released prior to their return. Sadly, two Thai individuals have been confirmed deceased, while the fate of one remaining captive remains uncertain.

As reported by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ongoing conflict has led to the deaths of 46 Thai nationals, including the two who lost their lives in the custody of Hamas.

Many of these individuals were among the tens of thousands of Thai workers residing in Israel, drawn there by the promise of better economic opportunities.

The presence of Thai workers in Israel can be traced back to shifts in labor dynamics after the first Palestinian uprising (Intifada) from 1987 to 1993, when Israel sought alternatives to its former dependence on Palestinian workers.

Over the years, a significant number of migrant workers, primarily from Thailand, arrived in Israel, and today, they constitute the largest group of agricultural laborers in the country, often earning much higher wages compared to their home nation.

A bilateral agreement initiated a decade ago between Thailand and Israel facilitated the migration of Thai workers to the agricultural sector.

However, working conditions for these laborers have faced scrutiny, with Human Rights Watch reporting in 2015 that many were placed in inadequate housing and often received wages that fell below the legal minimum.

The report highlighted issues such as excessive working hours, unsafe conditions, and restrictions on changing employers, which persisted even in more recent investigations.

Before the attack on October 7, there were approximately 30,000 Thai workers, primarily engaged in agricultural roles, in Israel.

In response to the upheaval following the Hamas assault, around 7,000 Thais returned home, mainly through government-organized evacuation flights. Despite this, the lucrative labor conditions have continued to draw new arrivals.

Currently, the Thai ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, estimates that the number of Thai workers in Israel has risen to over 38,000.

Following the exodus prompted by the attacks, the Israeli Agriculture Ministry announced measures to reverse the labor shortage, including incentives aimed at attracting foreign workers back to their positions in evacuated areas.

These incentives consist of extended work visas and monthly bonuses of approximately $500.

The Thai Labor Ministry has also authorized nearly 4,000 workers to return to Israel in 2024, ensuring that the country remains among the top four destinations for Thai workers abroad last year.

Typically, Thai migrant workers come from economically disadvantaged regions, particularly in the northeast, and even before bonuses, the salaries offered by Israeli employers vastly exceed what they could earn in Thailand.