Five Thai farm workers, held hostage for nearly 500 days, returned home to Bangkok, where tearful reunions and gratitude marked their long-awaited release.
Thai Hostages Finally Return Home After 15-Month Ordeal
Thai Hostages Finally Return Home After 15-Month Ordeal
Emotional reunions as five Thai workers are greeted by families at Bangkok Airport after being freed from Gaza captivity.
Bangkok welcomed home five Thai farm workers on Sunday morning, who were recently freed after spending nearly 500 days in captivity at the hands of Hamas in Gaza. The emotional reunion at Suvarnabhumi Airport saw families and friends embrace the men as they returned to their homeland for the first time since being kidnapped amidst the conflict in October 2023.
Pongsak Thaenna, one of the hostages, expressed his deep gratitude to those involved in their release, stating, "We wouldn't be here without you helping us. We're very touched and very glad to have returned to our homeland." The group, consisting of Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao, and Surasak Lamnao, were released as part of the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on January 30.
Fresh from an Israeli hospital where they spent ten days undergoing health assessments, the men landed in Bangkok around 7:30 a.m. local time to a warm welcome from relatives and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Somboon Saethao, father of one of the freed men, expressed overwhelming joy and spoke of a traditional ceremony planned to welcome his son home.
Each hostage will receive a compensation package totaling about £14,510 (600,000 baht), along with a monthly payment of £725 until the age of 80, ensuring they do not have to return to Israel for work. Sadly, one Thai hostage remains unaccounted for, prompting Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa to reaffirm ongoing efforts to seek their safe return.
In a broader context, since October 2023, a tragic toll has occurred, with 46 Thai workers reported killed and tensions continuing in the region. The conflict, which began with the Hamas attack on Israel, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides and widespread destruction, particularly in Gaza, according to reports from various health ministries and international organizations.
