Emotional scenes as agricultural workers arrive at Bangkok

Five Thai agricultural workers released by Hamas in Gaza last month arrived home to Bangkok, after spending almost 500 days in captivity.

Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surak Lamnao had been working in southern Israel when they were kidnapped during the attacks in October 2023.

There were emotional scenes on Sunday morning, since the five men were hugged by weeping relatives in the arrivals hall of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport.

“I don’t know how to put it in words,” said the hostage of Mr. Thaenna, he said.

“I would like to thank all the officials who were involved in helping us until we are here.

“We would not be here without helping us. We are very moved and very happy to have returned to our homeland. I am really grateful.

Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said he was “very inspiring” to witness his return After its launch on January 30 as part of the high fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

After landing at Bangkok at 07:30 local time (00:30 GMT), the five were received by a small group of relatives and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Shadoon Saethao, Mr. Saethao’s father, 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 you to be far from home,” his father told AFP.

Mr. Saethao moved to Israel nine months before his kidnapping in search of a better income for the family, he added.

His wife, Wiayada Saethao, told BBC Thai journalists that the 15 months that her husband was held hostage was a period of suffering.

“Don’t be afraid anymore. We are at home now. We are in Thailand. We will return home,” Thai journalists of the BBC told Thai.

The five men will go to their hometown.

Boonsong Tapchaiyut, an official of the Ministry of Labor, said that each hostage would receive a unique payment of about £ 14,510 (600,000 Baht), along with a monthly salary of £ 725 until the age of 80, to make sure they did not have to Return to Israel.

A Thai hostage remains without an account.

“For the sixth Thai hostage that still remains in Gaza, we never refrain from action, we still have hope and do whatever we are successful,” said Foreign Minister, Mr. Sangiampongsa.

Last month, after the delivery of the five hostages in Khan Yunis Thai Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra He said he was “euphoric” that they were out of captivity.

He thanked Israel, as well as Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Türkiye and the United States for their work to ensure the releases.

A total of 46 Thai workers have been killed since October 2023, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, most of Hamas and Hamas’ attack and Some for rockets dismissed by the Hezbollah of Lebanon.

Hamas confiscated 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 people when he attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering the regional war.

According to the Hamas Ministry of Health, at least 47,500 Palestinians in Israel’s offensive. Around two thirds of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Israel’s attacks, the UN says.