24 of 33 Thai victims of Hamas killings now identified, with 15 bodies repatriated
PUBLISHED : 26 Oct 2023 at 16:46
The bodies of seven more Thai workers killed in Israel arrived on Thursday morning aboard an El Al Flight at Suvarnabhumi airport.
Thai and Israeli officials attended a ceremony at a cargo terminal at the airport to receive the bodies after El Al Flight LY083 touched down at 10.35am.
Those present and laying wreaths included Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee; Israeli ambassador to Thailand Orna Sagiv; Wannarat Srisuksai, deputy permanent secretary of the Ministry of Labour; and Aree Krainara, secretary to Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakan.
The seven bodies whose identities have been verified by the Israel authorities were Teerapong Klangsuwan, Pirun Thanonphim and Saksit Kotemee from Udon Thani; Sakda Surakhai from Nong Khai; Apichart Kusaram from Khon Kaen; Srithat Kawao from Kamphaeng Phet; and Nitikorn Sae Wang from Chiang Rai.
No relatives were at the airport as the bodies were to be transported directly to their home communities by a funeral service company.
A ceremony to send the bodies off from Israel was also held on Wednesday afternoon local time at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.
Thai officials who attended included Pannabha Chandraramya, the Thai ambassador to Israel; Naruchai Ninnart, deputy director-general of the Consular Affairs Department; Sakdinart Sonthisakyothin, an inspector with the Social Security Office; and Kitthana Srisuriya, a Thai labour attache.
The Israeli officials present included Eliyahu Revivo, an Israeli parliament member and chairman of the committee on foreign labour affairs; and Michael Ronen, director-general of the Department of Asia and the Pacific.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday that the number of Thai workers confirmed killed in Israel had risen from 31 to 33. Of the total, 24 bodies have been verified by Israeli authorities. Of those identified, 15 have been flown home on two flights so far.