Happiness tears reach home in Bangkok as free Thai hostages

After spending about 500 days in captivity, five Thai farm workers released by Hamas in Gaza last month have come home in Bangkok.

Pongsak Thanna, Sathian Suwanakham, Watchra Srihoun, Bannavat Satho and Surasak Lamno were all working in Southern Israel when they were abducted during the attacks in October 2023.

There were emotional scenes on Sunday morning as five people were embraced by tears in the arrival hall of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport.

“I don’t know how to keep it in words,” the hostage issued Mr. Thanna.

“I want to thank all the officers who were involved in helping us until we stand here.

“We will not be here without helping you. We are touching a lot and are very happy that I have returned to my motherland. I am really grateful.”

External Affairs Minister Maris Sangimpongong said that there was “very inspirational” for his return After his release on 30 January As part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

After landing at Bangkok at 07:30 local time (00:30 GMT), five met with a small group of very happy relatives and officials of the Ministry of External Affairs.

He had spent the last 10 days in an Israeli hospital to monitor his health.

Mr. Setho’s father Somboon Setho said he was “very happy” and his family would welcome his son’s house with a traditional Thai ceremony.

“I don’t think I want him to stay away from home again,” his father told AFP.

He said that Mr. Setho moved to Israel nine months before his kidnapping in search of better income for the family.

His wife, Viyada Setho, told BBC Thai reporters that her husband was taken hostage for 15 months, she had a period of sorrow.

“Don’t be afraid now. We are home now. We are in Thailand. We are going back home,” he said.

Five men will make their way for their hometown.

A Labor Ministry official, Bonsong Tapchayat said that each hostage will receive a one -time payment of about 14,510 (600,000 baht), as well as a monthly salary of up to £ 725 by 80 years of age, to ensure that to ensure that They do not need to return to Israel.

A Thai remains unabated for the mortgage.

External Affairs Minister Shri Sangimpongong said, “For the sixth Thai hostage who are still in Gaza, we never avoid action, we still have hope and until we are successful, we are what we Whatever you do, he will do it. “

Last month, Khan Younis Thai Prime Minister Patongtern Shinavatra after a handover of five hostages Said she was “elated” that they were out of captivity,

He thanked Israel, as well as Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and the United States for his work for securing the release.

A total of 46 Thai workers have died since October 2023, according to the Ministry of External Affairs in Bangkok, majority in Hamas attack and Some rockets fired by Hizbullah of Lebanon,

Hamas seized 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 people when he attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, leading to the regional war.

According to Gaza’s Hamas-Interested Health Ministry, at least 47,500 Palestinians have died in Israeli’s aggressive. About two-thirds of Gaza buildings have been damaged or destroyed by the Israeli attacks, the United Nations says.