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Thomas Mackintosh
BBC News
Watch: Moment Thai hostages reunite with households after 15 months
Five Thai farm staff launched by Hamas in Gaza final month have arrived house in Bangkok, after spending almost 500 days in captivity.
Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao had all been working in southern Israel after they have been kidnapped throughout the assaults in October 2023.
There have been emotional scenes on Sunday morning because the 5 males have been embraced by tearful kinfolk at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport’s arrivals corridor.
“I don’t know how to put it into words,” launched hostage Mr Thaenna stated.
“I’d like to thank all the officials who were involved in helping us out until we’re standing here.
“We would not be right here with out you serving to us. We’re very touched and really glad to have returned to our homeland. I’m really grateful.”
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said it was “very inspiring” to witness their return following their release on 30 January as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
After landing in Bangkok at 07:30 local time (00:30 GMT), the five were met by a small group of overjoyed relatives and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
They had spent previous 10 days at an Israeli hospital so their well being may be monitored.
Reuters
Relatives of Sathian Suwannakham, one of many launched Thai hostages
Somboon Saethao, the father of Mr Saethao, said he was “so glad” and that his family would welcome his son home with a traditional Thai ceremony.
“I do not suppose I would like him to be removed from house once more,” his father told AFP.
Mr Saethao moved to Israel nine months before his kidnap in search of a better income for the family, he added.
His wife, Wiayada Saethao, told BBC Thai reporters that the 15 months her husband was held hostage were a period of suffering.
“Don’t be afraid anymore. We’re house now. We’re in Thailand. We’re going again house,” she stated.
Reuters
The 5 stand collectively at a press convention after arriving on the airport
The five men will make their way to their hometowns.
Boonsong Tapchaiyut, a labour ministry official, said each hostage would receive a one-time payment of around £14,510 (600,000 baht), along with a monthly salary of £725 until the age of 80, to ensure they did not have to return to Israel.
One Thai hostage remains unaccounted for.
“For the sixth Thai hostage who nonetheless stay within the Gaza, we by no means chorus from motion, we do nonetheless have hope and can do no matter till we succeed,” stated Foreign Minister Mr Sangiampongsa.
Reuters
Thai hostage Pongsak Thaenna is hugged by his father, as his brother appears to be like on
Last month, after the handover of the five hostages in Khan Yunis Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she was “elated” that they were out of captivity.
She thanked Israel, as well as Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and the United States for their work to secure the releases.
A total of 46 Thai workers have been killed since October 2023, according to the foreign ministry in Bangkok, the majority in the Hamas attack and some by rockets fired by Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Hamas seized 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 people when it attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, triggering the regional war.
At least 47,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, in accordance with Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry. About two-thirds of Gaza’s buildings have been broken or destroyed by Israel’s assaults, the UN says.
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