Five Thai nationals were released by the Palestinian militant group Hamas yesterday after nearly 16 months of captivity in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military announced.
The five, who were identified by Israeli government as Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakhan, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat and Rumnao Surasak, were kidnapped by Hamas during its deadly incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel also released a video of the five being escorted by black-clad Hamas fighters through crowds in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza, toward a waiting Red Cross truck.
The group was released along with three Israeli hostages as part of the current six-week ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which has paused the war in Gaza after 15 months of fighting that has reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble.
Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas has committed to freeing at least 33 of the remaining 97 hostages in Gaza in exchange for a partial Israeli withdrawal and the release of over 1,500 Palestinians currently in Israeli prisons.
The Israeli military announced that the group would be met by Thai government officials at a base close to Gaza. A photo published by the Bangkok post showed the five holding up Thai flags after their release.
In a statement posted to her Facebook page, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn said that she was “elated” to receive confirmation that the five Thai hostages had been released. “The Thai Government, including everyone here in Thailand, have long been waiting for this very moment,” she wrote.
“The Government of Thailand deeply appreciates the efforts of all of those involved, namely Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, the U.S., and other friendly countries as well as the [Red Cross], and thanks Israel for taking care of them and facilitating their return home.”
The five hostages were among the 31 Thai agricultural workers who were captured by Hamas from four farms close to the Gaza border. Earlier, 23 hostages were released and two, Sudthisak Rinthalak and Sonthaya Oakkharasri, were confirmed dead in May of last year.
Prior to the Gaza conflict, about 30,000 Thai nationals worked in Israel, mostly in the agriculture sector, making up one of the largest groups of migrant workers in the country. Forty-one Thais were also among the 1,200 people killed by Hamas during its incursion into southern Israel.
Yesterday’s release appears to leave one remaining Thai hostage in captivity: 35-year-old Pinta Nattapong, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the attacks of October 7. While his fate remains uncertain, the release of the five Thai nationals has been greeted with euphoria by their families back in Thailand.
“It is confirmed everyone, my son did not die. Thank you God,” Sriaoun Wiwwaeo, the mother of Thai hostage Sriaoun Watchara, said after the confirmation of her son’s release, according to the AFP news agency. “I will hug him when I see him,” she added. “I want to see if his health is ok, I am worried about his health.”