Thai hostages return from Gaza

At the gate 10 of the arrivals hall at Bangkok Airport, Wachiana Sayang renewed her son’s hair, as if he were a young boy, not a man who grew. A few meters away, Pongsak wrapped his arms around his father and did not leave. His tears retreated his father’s shoulder.

“To see my son, it is indescribable.”. “I can’t say that with words.”

Sunday morning, Five hostages He returned to Thailand after 15 months of families in Gaza. The family’s reunification at the airport was a happy crowning of an ordeal that led to a large group of Thai workers since Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Although there is no relationship with the conflict, the Thai, after the Israelis, were the largest victims of terrorism launched by Hamas. At least 39 Thai agricultural workers were killed on October 7. More than 30 they were I took a hostageWith the majority that was released in November 2023. Two died during captivity; The finished Thai hostage is still not calculated.

“Today is a very emotional day,” said Maris Sangaponsa, Secretary of State at Thailand, who receives the five hostages at Bangkok Airport, describing how great it was, “The person is able to return home to the warmth of his family.”

Poverty forced tens of thousands of people from Thailand, especially from the northeastern rural areas, to find work in Israel as a farm. Their numbers increased in the nineties after the first intifada, or the uprising, when farmer owners were looking for alternatives to Palestinian workers, and now about 30,000. About 5,000 of them worked in the fields near the border with Gaza, which helps to grow many fresh products that were eaten in Israel .

Salaries in Israel – to pick up avocado, breeding chicken, and strawberry strawberries – are at least five times from these country in Izan, as is well known to the northeast. Transfer is the money in which thousands of Thai remained in Israel, even after the killings on October 7. Others continued to travel there on new contracts.

The danger continues to chase them. In October, Hezbollah killed four Thais in northern Israel. In the same month, another Thai died near the Israeli border of Liban when the munitions exploded in Bustan.

For several months, Mr. Villas prepared the pilgrimage to the Buddhist temples, where he gives the safety of his son, Mr. Bongsak. It has grown in the rituals of prayer: incense, the mining, and the hands that gathered in supplication.

Immediately before midnight, a car was boarded by a long car car to Bangkok, to reunite with his son, and arrived at the airport before dawn. He said that his family could not bear the cost of a plane ticket.

He said that his son will be appointed soon as a monk to show his gratitude for survival.

Mr. Pongsak said of his family and his release:

At Bangkok Airport, Nukan Swakkham, another hostage mother, Satian Swingham, was surprised that even after 15 months of families her son seemed good health.

“It seemed hotter,” said Mrs. Nokan. “He has a youthful cheek.”

Her son told her that everything he did in captivity is “eating and sleeping.”

They said that the hostages often survived the house, beans and vegetables, along with a little meat. The flavors were very far from the fiery kitchen of Izan, with hot pepper and fermented. Thai diplomats said the internal months left the hostages who lack vitamin D.

Anung Saito, the 22 -year -old Banouat Setho’s wife, was another hostage, carrying her husband’s hand at the airport. I hit his back. He is on his shoulder. They have three children, between the ages of 16 months, 4 and 6.

She said that the children only knew that their father was working abroad. They were very young so that they did not know the truth about 15 months of hostage, longer than the time he was already working as a farm in Israel.

Even if the other Thai workers returned to Israel or were ready to do so, Mrs. Anong said that her family was different. No money deserves such risks.

She said, “I will never allow him to work abroad again.”