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February 9, 2025 | 01:13 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Five Thai citizens who were released by Hamas after being held hostage arrived in their home country on Sunday, February 9, 2025. The moment of meeting with family members at Suvarnabhumi airport was filled with tears.
The five former Hamas hostages returned to Thailand wearing winter jackets. They were full of emotions when they met their family members.
"We are very touched to be able to return to our homeland and be here. I don't know what else to say, we are grateful," said Pongsak Thaenna, one of the hostages.
According to Israeli authorities, Hamas took about 240 people hostage, including Israeli citizens and foreign nationals, in an attack on the Israeli border on October 7, 2023. In the attack, 41 Thai citizens were claimed to have been killed and 30 Thai citizens who were working as laborers in Israel were taken hostage.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, who oversaw the repatriation of the former Hamas hostages from Israel, expressed relief that the five former hostages had returned safely. He assured that they never gave up and the return of the hostages was the result of their persistence.
"It is very emotional to see them back with their families," he said.
Before the Gaza war erupted, an estimated 30,000 Thai nationals worked as laborers in the Star of David country in the agricultural sector. That number is the largest among the number of migrant workers in Israel. Nearly 9,000 migrant workers from Thailand were repatriated after the attack.
Most of the Thai migrant workers working in Israel come from northern Thailand, an area consisting of the poorest villages in the Land of the White Elephant. Most of the residents there make a living as farmers.
The Thai Foreign Ministry said one of its citizens is believed to still be held by Hamas. "We are still hoping and working together to bring the hostages home alive," said Maris, including two Thai nationals who have died and want their bodies brought to Thailand.
Source: Reuters
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