Five Thai workers who were held hostage for over a year in Gaza have arrived back in Bangkok, Thailand. The men, aged between 27 and 36, were released on January 30 as part of an exchange arrangement with Hamas.
The group was welcomed home by family members and Thai officials, including Foreign Minister Maris Sagniampongsa. They expressed gratitude to the government for securing their release.
This is not the first time Thai workers have been held captive in Gaza; 31 were kidnapped during a Hamas assault on southern Israel last October. Since then, five groups of Thai hostages have been released, with the most recent group returning home today.
The release of the five men brings to 46 the total number of Thais killed in the conflict, including two who died during the attack and whose bodies remain in Gaza.
Thai workers continue to be an essential part of Israel’s agricultural workforce. A bilateral agreement between Thailand and Israel was signed a decade ago to facilitate their work.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/thailand-middle-east-gaza-hostages-d225705053f453c403d25f29658d0fb5