Thai Citizens Hopeful for Release of Compatriots from Gaza
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World
January 30, 2025 13:21
- Thai citizens remain hopeful for the release of their compatriots from Gaza, despite past disappointments.
Thai Citizens Await Confirmation on Release of Hostages
The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs is waiting for confirmation from the Thai Ambassador in Israel regarding the released hostages. Previous confusion arose over the number of hostages freed and their nationality.
A Hamas official stated that the Thai citizens were held by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant group in Gaza. Six Thai nationals are reported to still be held captive in Gaza.
Among the captives is Watchara Sriuan, who traveled to Israel with his brother three years ago to work in agriculture and alleviate their family's debts. The families of the hostages, coming from impoverished regions in Thailand, greatly rely on the income earned by their relatives working abroad.
While some hostages have been released, others, like Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Sudthisak Rinthalak, tragically lost their lives during the ordeal.
Thailand has a significant number of citizens working in Israel, particularly in sectors like construction and agriculture. The recent incident involving the abduction of Thai workers highlights the risks faced by foreign laborers in the region.