‘We never gave up’: tears and elation as freed Thai hostages return home from Gaza

The relatives of five Thai agricultural workers who had been held captive in Gaza for more than a year cried with happiness and embraced their family members upon arriving in Bangkok on Sunday. The group beamed upon entering the arrivals hall at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport after their release on 30 January as part of a ceasefire agreement intended to conclude the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The five employees – Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Tanna, Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak Lamnau, and Bannawat Saethao – arrived in Bangkok early Sunday morning and were greeted by a small gathering of ecstatic relatives and officials from the foreign affairs ministry. Pongsak expressed to reporters that he was “at a loss for words” upon seeing his family.

“I thank everyone who helped us make it out. We wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them. We can finally return to our motherland,” he said. Somboon Saethao, the father of Bannawat, said he was “so happy” and that his family would welcome his son home with a traditional Thai ceremony. “I don’t think I want him to be far from home again,” said Somboon, who comes from Nan province in northern Thailand.

Bannawat relocated to Israel nine months prior to his abduction, seeking improved financial stability for his family, he mentioned. Foreign minister Maris Sangiampongsa expressed that it was “very inspiring” to see their return, stating that officials would oversee their reintegration into Thai society, “emphasizing their mental health”. “We always maintained our commitment to these hostages,” he remarked at a press conference at the airport.

The five returnees are currently heading back to their hometowns. Boonsong Tapchaiyut, an official from the labour ministry, stated that every hostage would be granted a one-time payment of approximately $18,000 (600,000 baht), in addition to a monthly income of $900 until reaching the age of 80, to make sure they wouldn’t have to go back to Israel.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the abduction of 31 Thais, with 23 being freed by the year’s end and two confirmed deceased in May. One Thai citizen is still thought to be alive in Gaza. The transfer of the five hostages in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, last month featured chaotic scenes, with fighters from Islamic Jihad and Hamas working to control the crowd of hundreds of onlookers.

Following the release, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her “elation” at their freedom and expressed gratitude to Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, and the US for their efforts in ensuring the releases. According to the foreign ministry in Bangkok, 46 Thai workers have died since October 2023, with most casualties resulting from the Hamas attack and others due to rockets launched by Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Last week, Thailand’s labor ministry announced that the nation would increase its workforce in Israel by 13,000.