Thomas Mackintosh
BBC News, London
Watch: Thai Otages moment find families after 15 months
Five Thai agricultural workers published by Hamas in Gaza last month arrived at home in Bangkok, after spending almost 500 days in captivity.
Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao had all worked in southern Israel when they were kidnapped during attacks in October 2023.
There were emotional scenes on Sunday morning when the five men were adopted by relatives in tears in the arrival hall of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport.
“I don’t know how to put it in words,” said the hostage Mr. Thaenna.
“I would like to thank all the officials who have been involved to help us until we are here.
“We would not be here without you helping us. We are very touched and very happy to be returned to our homeland. I am really grateful.
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said he was “very inspiring” to attend their return following their release on January 30 in the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
After landing in Bangkok at 7:30 am local time (00:30 GMT), the five were met by a small group of delighted parents and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Reuters
Parents of Sathian Suwannakham, one of the Thai hostages published
Reuters
The five stand together at a press conference after their arrival at the airport
Somboon Saethao, Mr. Saethao’s father, said that he was “so happy” and that his family would welcome his son at home with a traditional Thai ceremony.
“I don’t think I want him to be far from my home,” his father told AFP.
Mr. Saethao moved to Israel nine months before his kidnapping in search of better income for the family, he added.
His wife, Wiayada Saethao, told BBC Thai journalists that the 15 months that her husband was held hostage was a period of suffering.
“Do not be afraid. We are at home now. We are in Thailand. We return home,” she told BBC Thai journalists.
Reuters
Thai hostage Pongsak Thaenna is embraced by her father, while her brother looks
The five men will go to their hometown.
Boonsong Tapchaiiyut, a head of the Ministry of Labor, said that each hostage would receive a single payment of around £ 14,510 (600,000 baht), as well as a monthly salary of £ 725 until the age of 80, To make sure they didn’t have to return to Israel.
A Thai hostage remains not counted.
“For the sixth Thai hostage that always stays in Gaza, we never abstract in action, we always have hope and we will do anything until we succeed,” said the Minister of Affairs foreign, Mr. Sangiampongsa.
Last month, after the transfer of the five hostages of the Thai Prime Minister of Khan Yunis, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said that it was “delighted” that they were out of captivity.
She thanked Israel, as well as Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and the United States for their work to guarantee outings.
In total, 46 Thai workers have been killed since October 2023, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok, the majority of the attack on Hamas and some, by the rockets licensed by Lebanon Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to the Ministry of 2023.
Hamas seized 251 hostages and killed around 1,200 people when it attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, triggering the regional war.
At least 47,500 Palestinians were killed in the offensive of Israel, according to the Ministry of Health managed by Gaza. About two thirds of Gaza buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Israel’s attacks, said the UN.
