Thai families celebrate as hostages freed in Gaza: 'I’m going to give him a hug’

Thailand’s premier curate said her authorities was moving with Israel to ensure the Thai hostages freed by Hamas arsenic portion of an ongoing ceasefire and prisoner exchange woody were reunited with their families astatine the earliest.

Israel’s subject confirmed that 3 Israeli hostages – Gadi Moses, 80, Arbel Yehoud, 29, and pistillate worker Agam Berger, 20 – had been handed implicit on with Thai citizens Pongsak Thaenna, 36, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Watchara Sriaoun, 33, Bannawat Seathao, 27, and Surasak Rumnao, 32. One Thai hostage was inactive unaccounted for.

“The Thai authorities and everyone present successful Thailand person agelong been waiting for this precise moment,” Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted connected societal media. “I clasp connected to my anticipation that the remaining Thai nationalist volition beryllium released and returned to america safely and speedily.”

The families of the Thai hostages reacted with tears and celebrations connected proceeding the quality of their release.

Mr Rumnao, who was taken from Yesha successful confederate Israel during the Hamas onslaught connected 7 October 2023, appeared airy and swollen connected Thursday, his parent Khammee Lamnao said. “I was truthful blessed that I could not devour anything,” she told the Associated Press successful a video call.

Mr Thaenna’s father, Wilas Thaenna, wept upon proceeding his lad had been freed. He had hardly slept the nighttime earlier from excitement. “When I spot him, I’m going to springiness him a hug and archer him to travel home,” helium told the BBC.

Mr Suwannakham’s sister Sirinna said her household clung to anticipation passim his clip successful captivity. “If helium had died, we would person had a assemblage to clasp a ceremony,” she said. Instead, they chose to judge helium was inactive alive.

There were 31 Thai citizens among the astir 250 radical abducted by Hamas fighters during the 2023 attack, making them the largest radical of overseas hostages.

Most were cultivation workers who lived successful distant compounds connected the outskirts of kibbutzim and towns which were among the archetypal areas to beryllium overrun.

Twenty 3 of them were released during a little ceasefire successful November 2023, successful a woody negotiated by Thailand with the enactment of Qatar and Iran.

According to Thailand’s overseas ministry, 46 Thai citizens moving successful Israel person been killed successful the struggle truthful far. Two of them were killed successful the 2023 onslaught and their bodies were taken to Gaza.

Thailand’s ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, arranged video calls betwixt the freed hostages and their relatives backmost home. She described the calls arsenic incredibly emotional, filled with cries of joyousness and tears. She said it was 1 of the happiest days of her beingness to witnesser their release, particularly arsenic it came conscionable a week earlier the extremity of her five-year term.

Alex Gandler, lawman spokesperson for the Israeli overseas ministry, said his state volition recognise the released Thai hostages arsenic victims of terrorism, a designation that grants them entree to fiscal benefits and healthcare.

The handover of the Israeli and Thai hostages successful Khan Younis successful confederate Gaza was marked by chaotic scenes arsenic a assemblage surged towards the group, contempt the beingness of heavy equipped militants escorting them.

The commotion caused delays successful their transportation to Red Cross vehicles.

Israeli premier curate Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the “shocking scenes” and suspended the planned merchandise of Palestinian prisoners until mediators could warrant the harmless and orderly transportation of hostages successful aboriginal exchanges.

However, the captive merchandise resumed aft a little hold and buses carrying the freed Palestinian detainees arrived successful Ramallah later successful the day.

Many Thai workers successful Israel travel from economically disadvantaged regions of Thailand, attracted by higher wages. Before the 7 October 2023 attack, determination were astir 30,000 Thai nationals successful the West Asian country.

While immoderate returned location aft the warfare broke out, the committedness of amended wage has continued to bring caller workers to Israel, wherever their net acold transcend those of jobs backmost successful Thailand, Associated Press reported.

Additional reporting by agencies.