Pannabha Chandraramya was important in rescuing the results of Thai employees abducted and held in Gaza
PUBLISHED: 10 Mar 2025 at 04: 30
For Pannabha Chandraramya, one of the Bangkok Post’s People of the Year, war may be hell on earth, but it also serves as an opportunity to fight to keep life despite the deadly risks involved.
Exercising her political skills, the former Thai embassy to Israel was a key planner in the activity to save the scores of Thai workers abducted and held hostage in the Gaza Strip as a result of Hamas ‘ attack on Israel in October 2023. Ms Pannabha is now the Thai adviser to Switzerland.
Her next goal before completing her career was securing the launch of five Thai victims. Her goal was achieved when they were freed on Jan 30 and arrived safely up in Thailand on Feb 9. Mr Pannabha recalls the day of their launch as one of the happiest of her life.
She was appointed the embassy of Thailand to Israel in 2019 and was posted in Tel Aviv until this year, with the last 16 weeks of her career mainly occupied by the conflict.
She told the media she had not previously served in a land at war. The Israel-Hamas conflict is the deadliest issue in the region in years. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, including people of different locations.
Ms Pannabha said that when an emergency occurs and the local government concerns living counsel for the people, one of the responsibilities of the Thai consulate is to convert those instructions into Thai and tell Thai people quickly.
She said ensuring the safety of Thais living in Israel was among her most important tasks for over a month.
During the fight, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv, under the head of Ms Pannabha, helped facilitate the departure of more than 7, 900 Thais, including 120 learners, from combat zones and return them on a full of 34 flights. At that time, getting Thai citizens home safely was her priority.
At the beginning of the attack, at least 44 Thais working in farming zones along the Israeli border were killed, while 31 were taken hostage. Twenty-three of them were released shortly after. Of the remaining eight, two were later confirmed dead, leaving six in captivity for 15 months. With the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pressing for negotiations, all but one arrived back home in Thailand by Feb 9. The fate of the last hostage remains a mystery.
Ms Pannabha said she was glad to be able to assist with the rescue operation rather than sitting on the sidelines. For more than 400 days, the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv made the utmost effort in coordinating with all related sectors, negotiating with various governments and following up with relevant agencies, which led to their successful rescue, she said.
Ms Pannabha has served as a diplomat since 1990, working in Thai embassies and consulates in Germany, India and Norway. Prior to her tenure in Israel, she held the position of consul-general at the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Frankfurt, Germany. Ms Pannabha was appointed the Thai ambassador to Switzerland on Feb 6.
Pannabha ChandraramyaFormer Ambassador to Tel Aviv