Thai Nationals Israel Released From Hamas
As part of the negotiated four-day ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, 12 Thai nationals and 13 Israeli women and children will be released in the first stage of the hostage and prisoer exchange with Hamas. Over the next couple of days, 50 hostages will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
The names of the hostages that will be released hav
Have the Hostages Been Released?
As of yet, 12 Thai hostages and 13 Israeli women and children hostages have made their way towards Egypt but there is no word yet if they are officially in the care of the Red Cross already. The names of the Thai hostages and Israeli hostages have not been revealed yet but we will update this article as their names get published.
Thai Hostages in Gaza
Amidst the harrowing Israel-Hamas war, the plight of 14 Thai nationals, including Owat Suriyasri, has stirred deep concerns. Believed to have been taken into Gaza by Hamas terrorists, their families back in Thailand are grappling with fear and uncertainty.
Kanyarat, Owat’s wife, pleads fervently for their release, emphasizing their innocence in the conflict. “They have nothing to do with this. They only left Thailand to work and provide for their families,” she expressed, highlighting the pressing circumstances that pushed many Thai nationals, particularly from the impoverished Isaan region, to seek work in Israel’s agricultural sector.
For families like Owat’s, migrating for work offered a chance to secure a better future, a task dauntingly elusive in Thailand’s impoverished northeastern region. Here, earnings often barely exceed 6,000 baht ($160) monthly, leaving families living paycheck to paycheck without any prospects of building a stable life. In Israel, they can make $2000 a month to help provide for their families back home,
The tragedy transcends Owat’s family. Thailand reported the second-highest death toll from the recent Hamas terrorist attack. The devastating toll includes at least 21 Thai migrant workers, a staggering loss for a community striving to create opportunities abroad amid economic hardships at home.
Hamas Thai Hostages
The anguish and desperation of families seeking news of their missing or deceased loved ones have surfaced on social media platforms. Hometowns listed by these families, from Kalasin to Surin and Sisaket, represent some of Thailand’s most impoverished areas, reinforcing the economic motivations behind their loved ones’ journeys abroad.
Owat’s story reflects the aspirations and sacrifices of many Thai workers. After years of toiling on an Israeli farm, just kilometers away from the volatile Gaza border, he was eagerly anticipating his first visit home. His plan? To complete his contract, settle debts, and return with savings substantial enough to build a home and secure his children’s education.
However, the Hamas terror attack on October 7th has shattered these aspirations. Kanyarat, now consumed by fear and anxiety, pleads for her husband’s safety, distancing herself from news and social media in a desperate attempt to shield herself from further anguish.
Published by HOLR Magazine.