BANGKOK — On Sunday, five Thai citizens who had been held captive by Hamas since the group’s assault on Israel returned to Thailand after their release last month.
They represent the second group of Thai hostages set free, following the earlier release of 23 individuals during a ceasefire in November 2023. The negotiations for these releases involved cooperation between Thailand, Hamas, Qatar, and Iran. During this conflict, two Thai nationals were confirmed deceased, while the whereabouts of one remaining individual remain unknown.
Thai people constituted the largest contingent of foreign captives held by Hamas militants. Many of these agricultural workers had been residing in compounds near southern Israeli settlements, which were among the first areas targeted by the militants. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that a total of 46 Thais have lost their lives due to the ongoing violence.
In the aftermath of the assault on October 7, the former Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin urgently reached out to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, advocating for the safety and release of the Thai hostages.
Among the recently freed individuals was Watchara Sriaoun, age 33, who was one of five abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the initial attack. In total, 16 Thai workers were at that compound, with 11 tragically losing their lives and the remaining five being taken captive, as part of the larger group of at least 31 Thai workers seized during that violent event.
Another hostage, Sathian Suwannakham, age 35, had also been employed at the chicken farm in Nim Oz for four years prior to his abduction. The kibbutz continues to campaign for the release of its Thai workers, actively raising awareness on social media.
At the start of the conflict, around 30,000 Thais were employed in Israel, predominantly in the agricultural sector, with about 5,000 working in the southern regions adjacent to Gaza.
Surasak Rumnao, 32, was kidnapped from Yesha, a location adjacent to the Gaza Strip. His mother, Khammee Lamnao, expressed her joy at receiving confirmation of her son’s release from the Thai embassy in Israel. “I cannot wait to see my son,” she stated, having eagerly awaited this moment.
Pongsak Thaenna, age 36, was also taken from Yesha. He had been working in Israel since 2016. In a video shared by Thai officials, he expressed his feeling of being “reborn” after his release, yearning to reunite with his daughter. His father, Wilas Thaenna, was overcome with emotion upon hearing the news. “I never thought this day would come,” the 65-year-old shared, grappling with the challenges of his son’s captivity and the loss of his wife while remaining resilient during a difficult period.
Bannawat Saethao, 27, who was also abducted from Yesha, shared that his youngest child was just one month old at the time of his capture. “I’m so relieved,” he remarked in the video released by Thai officials, reflecting on the uncertainty he faced while held captive. “When I was there, I never knew if I’d ever get to return home.”
