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Thailand’s prime minister mentioned her authorities was working with Israel to make sure the Thai hostages freed by Hamas as a part of an ongoing ceasefire and prisoner change deal had been reunited with their households on the earliest.
Israel’s navy confirmed that three Israeli hostages – Gadi Moses, 80, Arbel Yehoud, 29, and feminine soldier Agam Berger, 20 – had been handed over together with Thai residents Pongsak Thaenna, 36, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Watchara Sriaoun, 33, Bannawat Seathao, 27, and Surasak Rumnao, 32. One Thai hostage was nonetheless unaccounted for.
“The Thai authorities and everybody right here in Thailand have lengthy been ready for this very second,” Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on social media. “I maintain on to my hope that the remaining Thai nationwide will probably be launched and returned to us safely and speedily.”
The households of the Thai hostages reacted with tears and celebrations on listening to the information of their launch.
Mr Rumnao, who was taken from Yesha in southern Israel throughout the Hamas assault on 7 October 2023, appeared pale and swollen on Thursday, his mom Khammee Lamnao mentioned. “I used to be so comfortable that I couldn’t eat something,” she informed the Related Press in a video name.
Mr Thaenna’s father, Wilas Thaenna, wept upon listening to his son had been freed. He had barely slept the evening earlier than from pleasure. “Once I see him, I’m going to provide him a hug and inform him to come back house,” he informed the BBC.
Mr Suwannakham’s sister Sirinna mentioned her household clung to hope all through his time in captivity. “If he had died, we might have had a physique to carry a ceremony,” she mentioned. As an alternative, they selected to consider he was nonetheless alive.
There have been 31 Thai residents among the many almost 250 individuals kidnapped by Hamas fighters throughout the 2023 assault, making them the most important group of international hostages.
Most had been agricultural staff who lived in distant compounds on the outskirts of kibbutzim and cities which had been among the many first areas to be overrun.
Twenty three of them had been launched throughout a quick ceasefire in November 2023, in a deal negotiated by Thailand with the assist of Qatar and Iran.
In accordance with Thailand’s international ministry, 46 Thai residents working in Israel have been killed within the battle thus far. Two of them had been killed within the 2023 assault and their our bodies had been taken to Gaza.
On Thursday, Dr Osnat Levzion-Korach, director of Shamir Medical Centre close to Tel Aviv, the place the 5 people had been introduced, mentioned that they had been in “truthful” well being, regardless of having spent most of their time underground and being disadvantaged of daylight for lengthy durations. She famous that they didn’t appear malnourished and attributed their comparatively good bodily situation throughout captivity to their younger age.
Thailand’s ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, organized video calls between the freed hostages and their relations again house. She described the calls as extremely emotional, stuffed with cries of pleasure and tears. She mentioned it was one of many happiest days of her life to witness their launch, particularly because it got here only a week earlier than the tip of her five-year time period.
Alex Gandler, deputy spokesperson for the Israeli international ministry, mentioned his nation will recognise the launched Thai hostages as victims of terrorism, a designation that grants them entry to monetary advantages and healthcare.
The handover of the Israeli and Thai hostages in Khan Younis in southern Gaza was marked by chaotic scenes as a crowd surged in direction of the group, regardless of the presence of closely armed militants escorting them.
The commotion precipitated delays of their switch to Pink Cross autos.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the “stunning scenes” and suspended the deliberate launch of Palestinian prisoners till mediators might assure the protected and orderly switch of hostages in future exchanges.
Nonetheless, the prisoner launch resumed after a quick delay and buses carrying the freed Palestinian detainees arrived in Ramallah later within the day.
Many Thai staff in Israel come from economically deprived areas of Thailand, attracted by larger wages. Earlier than the 7 October 2023 assault, there have been round 30,000 Thai nationals within the West Asian nation.
Whereas some returned house after the struggle broke out, the promise of higher pay has continued to convey new staff to Israel, the place their earnings far exceed these of jobs again in Thailand, Related Press reported.
Extra reporting by companies.
