BBCAfter being held in Gaza for about 500 time, five Thai plantation workers who were kidnapped on October 7 were finally released.
They were handed over to the Red Cross during chaotic scenes along with two Israelis, shortly after a first Israeli hostage was freed.
When they were abducted during the problems in October 2023, Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Seathao, and Surasak Lamnao were all employed in southern Israel.
The transfer of their families was announced by Thailand’s prime minister, who stated that his country was working with Israel to ensure that their families could return with them as soon as possible. One Thai captive is still missing.
” The Thai authorities, including all here in Thailand, have long been waiting for this very time”, PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on social media.
” I firmly believe that the last Thai regional will be freed and brought back to us quickly and safely.”
It was a day that the captives ‘ people had long awaited for them.
After being called to announce that Pongsak had been freed on Thursday, Wilas Thaena wept.
” I never thought this day would appear, everything has been very quiet for a while”, the 65-year-old told the BBC.
He revealed that he had hardlyslept the night before because he was so excited about the release of his brother.
” I don’t know how to explain how I got through all that happened”, he continued.
” My brother was taken prisoner, I lost my wife, I had to be strong.
” Second five or six decades, I’ve lost so much weight. It was disconcerting, I didn’t include power to do anything or get somewhere. I was concerned nonstop.
” When I see him, I’m going to give him a hug and tell him to appear home”.
ReutersWhen it was revealed that Wiwwaew’s boy Watchara had been released, Wiwwaew even cried.
She said,” The first thing I want to do is cuddle my child and tell him I miss him a lot.” ” His girl, Nudee, was likewise content. She has been asking for her father to come back every time.
She claimed Watchara’s entire family has visited her Udon Thani apartment to carefully watch the news.
She continued, adding that she received a visit on Wednesday evening but wasn’t sure if her child would still be dead.” I’ve had hope but I also lost hopes several times already. She and her spouse had gone plastic pressing on their land in the early hours of the morning, according to the AFP media company.
The home of freed prisoner Sathian’s younger sister, Sirinna Suwannakham, claimed they had no evidence that he had been killed, so they had only been able to keep the trust alive.
” If he had died, we would have had a system to maintain a ceremony”, she said. ” But there was none. But we never lost trust. Our initial belief was that my brother was still intact. We always gave up. We waited patiently for him to return home.
Embassy of the Royal Thai in Tel AvivAfter being met by Thai federal officials, the victims who have been released will now be taken to a clinic in Israel.
Thirty-one Thai employees were taken prisoner in the October 2023 problems, the Thai state has said recently. Another 39 were killed on the day.
The lot were released in November 2023, leaving only eight in Gaza, according to authorities. The death of Nattapong Pinta, the last prisoner, is unknown, despite the evidence that two have since passed away.
Nearly all of the international workers who were kidnapped during the invasion were Thais. Israel employs some 30, 000 of them as farm workers, making them one of the largest immigrant teams in the country.
Hamas and the Thai government have a distinct agreement, but the transfer does not fall under the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, which was reached on January 19.