The five prisoners were released last month at Khan Eunice in southern Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.
Five Thai citizens, who were taken prisoner by Gaza’s Palestinian group Hamas, have returned home for more than a year, after being released last month.
Watch Rathriwan, Ponsak Tena, Satian Suvarnakam, Salsa Krum Nao and Banawat Saetan were embraced by their families after landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabumi airport on Sunday morning.
“We are all deeply moved to be back at our birthplace and standing here,” said Ponsac, 36. “I don’t know what else to say. We’re all really grateful.”
Banawat’s father, Sonbourn Saetao, said he was “very happy” and that his family would welcome his son’s home at a traditional Thai ceremony.
“I don’t want him to be far from home again,” Sombone, a native of Nan province in northern Thailand, told AFP news agency.
The five men were released last month in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, which suspended a 15-month Israeli attack on Gaza.
Maris Sanginponsa, a Thai man who escorted prisoners from Israel, expressed relief upon his return. “This is emotional… going back to their family embrace,” he said. “We never gave up. This was the fruit.”
Prime Minister Paetontan Sinawatra was “pleasant” to say they were not confined and thanked Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Torkiye and the United States for securing the release of the men.
Citing government officials, a report from Udon Thani, northeastern Thailand, where the two returnees live, lives in two returnees, shows that all five are physically healthy. He said it is. He said the government will monitor them over the next few months so that they can return to their normal lives.
“We spoke with Sriaoun’s family. [one of the captives]and they are very excited to welcome him to the house,” Chen said.
“His mother said that during this whole period she maintains her faith in God. She was quite annoyed because she had little captive communication from the Thai or Israeli governments. I said I was doing it,” he said.
“We also told his nine-year-old daughter. She said all she wanted to do is give her father a hug.”
A total of 31 Thai citizens were taken prisoner during a Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, of which 23 were released in 2023, and two died in May last year.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that one Thai citizen is still believed to be captured by Hamas.
“We still have hope and we continue to work to get them back,” Maris said, speaking of the remaining prisoners and the bodies of two dead Thai citizens.
Before the Gaza War, around 30,000 Thai workers worked in Israel’s agricultural sector, making them one of the largest migrant workers in the country. Since the start of the war, almost 9,000 Thais have been deported.
Workers mainly come from the northeastern region of Thailand. This is the area that makes up villages and agricultural communities that are among the poorest people in the country.
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