Thai Nationals Held Captive by Hamas

in Gaza Return Home

Five Thai nationals who had been under Hamas captivity in Gaza since last year spent their first night as free men at Ben Gurion airport before returning home to Thailand. The workers from Israel’s agriculture industry were seized when Hamas launched their offensive against Israel on October 7, 2023. The feud triggered their liberation when Israel and Hamas sealed an armistice deal.

The returnees are:

1.Watchara Sriaoun aged 33 was abducted in Kibbutz Nir Oz where 16 Thai workers lived and eleven of those workers lost their lives.

2.Sathian Suwannakham age 35 worked on a chicken farm as he resided in Nir Oz.

3.The soldier took Surasak Rumnao from Yesha at age 32 while he worked agricultural jobs for 15 months.

4.The Israeli security forces took Pongsak Thaenna when he was 36 years old after he worked in Israel since 2016 while stationed in Yesha.

5.Bannawat Saethao was captured when his baby was still one month old at Yesha where he lived.

The Thai government collaborated with Qatar and Iran to finalize the hostage release but additional efforts continue to bring back one more Thai national held by Hamas. Thailand remains active in its mission to retrieve the remaining Thai citizen being detained by Hamas.

International diplomatic engagement continues to ensure the safety and welfare of foreign nationals present in war zones following the repatriation of Thai nationals from Gaza.

Thai Nationals Held Captive by Hamas in Gaza Return Home