Jan 31 (TNA) – The Thai Ambassador to Israel thanked the Israeli government for their help in returning 5 Thai hostages home after being released by Hamas along with 3 Israeli hostages.
Ms. Pannapa Chantrarom, the Thai Ambassador to Israel, stated from the Shamir Medical Center in Beer Yaakov, Israel, where the hostages underwent medical examinations, that Thailand is waiting to welcome the 5 Thai hostages home after their release by Hamas yesterday (Jan 30). She thanked the Israeli government for their role in sending the hostages back to the country, and thanked the hospital for taking good care of the Thais.
The Thai Ambassador to Israel also said that the Thai hostages had spoken to their families in Thailand. Officials are working on setting a return date for them because all those released did not have passports.
Earlier, Israel revealed the names of the 5 Thai hostages, including Mr. Pongsak Taenna, Mr. Sathien Suwankam, Mr. Watchara Sri-uan, Mr. Bannawat Saetao, and Mr. Surasak Lamnao. Another person still under Hamas control is Mr. Nattapong Pinta. All the released hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross before meeting with Thai government officials at a reception point at a base near the Gaza Strip.
39 Thai workers who went to work in the agricultural sector in Israel died during the Hamas attack on several agricultural communities in southern Israel on December 7, 2023, and 31 others were taken hostage.
However, most of the Thai hostages were released in November 2023, leaving only 8 Thai hostages in the Gaza Strip. Among them, 2 people, Sonthaya Akrasri and Mr. Sutthisak Rinthalak, were reported by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have likely died early in the incident in October 2023. As for Mr. Nattapong Pinta, the last Thai worker who has not been released, his fate is currently unknown whether he is still alive or dead, and it remains to be seen whether he will be released by Hamas in the next release round this Saturday. -819 (TNA)
