Families of Thai farm workers who had been kept captive in Gaza for more than a year arrived in Bangkok on Sunday, crying with happiness and embracing their loved ones.
The five Thais, who were released on January 30 as part of a truce agreement meant to end the fighting in Gaza, smiled as they entered the arrivals hall at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
A small group of ecstatic family members and foreign ministry representatives greeted the five when they arrived in Bangkok at 7:30 am (0030 GMT) on Sunday: Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Tanna, Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak Lamnau, and Bannawat Saethao.
When Pongsak saw his family, he told reporters he was “at a loss for words.”
“I want to thank everyone who made it possible for us to go. Without them, we wouldn’t be here today. Finally, we can go back to our homeland,” he declared.
Maris Sangiampongsa, the foreign minister, described their return as “very inspiring” and stated that officials will keep an eye on their reintegration into Thai society, “focusing on their mental health.”
He told reporters at the airport, “We never gave up on these hostages.”
They are currently traveling back to their hometowns.
Each hostage would receive a one-time payment of approximately $18,000 (600,000 baht) and a monthly wage of $900 until they were 80 years old, according to Boonsong Tapchaiyut, a labor ministry official at the airport on Sunday, to guarantee they would not have to return to Israel.
-Deeprows News
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
