Five Thai nationals who had been held captive in Gaza for over a year have finally returned home following their release last month.
Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Sarusak Rumnao, and Bannawat Saethao were reunited with their families at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday morning, where they were greeted with emotional embraces.
“We are all deeply touched to be back in our homeland, to be standing here,” said 36-year-old Pongsak. “I don’t know what else to say—we are truly grateful.”
Bannawat’s father, Somboon Saethao, expressed his overwhelming joy, saying he was “so happy” and that his family planned to welcome his son home with a traditional Thai ceremony. “I don’t think I want him to be far from home again,” added Somboon, who hails from Nan province in northern Thailand, speaking to AFP.
The five men were freed last month in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, as part of a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, temporarily halting Israel’s 15-month offensive on Gaza.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, who personally accompanied the returnees from Israel, expressed his relief. “This is deeply emotional—to see them reunited with their families,” he said. “We never gave up, and this is the result of that determination.”
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra also shared her joy at their safe return, expressing gratitude to Israel, as well as Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkiye, and the United States for their efforts in securing the men’s release.
Reporting from Udon Thani, where two of the returnees’ families reside, Al Jazeera’s Tony Cheng cited government officials who confirmed that all five men were in good physical health. Authorities will continue monitoring them over the next few months to support their reintegration into normal life.
Cheng spoke with the family of Sriaoun, one of the freed captives. His mother shared that throughout the ordeal, she maintained her faith in God but was frustrated by the lack of communication from both the Thai and Israeli governments during her son’s captivity. His nine-year-old daughter eagerly expressed her only wish: “All I want is to give my dad a hug.”
A total of 31 Thai nationals were taken hostage during the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023. Of them, 23 were released that same year, while two tragically lost their lives in May 2024. Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Sunday that one Thai national remains in captivity in Gaza.
“We still hold onto hope and are continuing efforts to bring them home,” Maris said, referring to the remaining hostage and the bodies of the two deceased Thai nationals.
Before the conflict began, around 30,000 Thai laborers worked in Israel’s agricultural sector, making them one of the country’s largest groups of migrant workers. Since the war started, nearly 9,000 Thai nationals have been repatriated.
Most of these workers originate from Thailand’s northeastern region, an area known for its farming communities and among the poorest in the country.
