Timing of relocation depends on evaluation of five female’s health fitness, says foreign minister
PUBLISHED: 1 Feb 2025 at 20: 52
Maris Sangiampongsa, the foreign affairs minister, made an overnight visit to Israel on Saturday to handle the expected relocation of five Thai citizens who had been held hostage by Hamas for 15 weeks.
On Saturday night, Mr. Maris and Gen. Songwit Noonpakdee, the captain of the defense forces, arrived in Tel Aviv and afterward met with the five Thais at Al-Shamir Medical Center, where a Zoom conference was held with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
Mr Maris even met with his Jewish rival, GideonSa’ar, to discuss the process of repatriating the five Thais to Thailand.
The men’s release was coordinated by a military skilled team that is already stationed in Israel, and they will continue to work to make sure their return is as soon as possible.
Before heading to Israel on Friday night, Mr. Maris stated that, as far as he was informed, the victims who were released on Thursday were in good physical health. He did point out that their protracted captivity may have had a significant impact on their mental health.
” They will likely need to go through eight to ten days for them to go through rigorous physical and mental health exams, as well as an assessment to determine their fitness to travel home,” he said.
” Of course, we want them to return with their families as soon as possible”, he added. ” Being again with their loved ones may also help in their mental healing,” the quote goes.
The minister thanked Israel for its continued support of allowing the hostages to be released, as well as the Thai martial group, who had been assisting them for almost a month.
He even extended Thailand’s respect to Qatar, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey for their help.
The five Thai victims that Hamas has freed are depicted after being transferred to Israeli country on Thursday. ( Photo: Ministry of Labour )