Israel flies in family members of Thai hostages freed from Gaza last week

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Thai hostages who were freed from Hamas captivity, from left to right, Surasak Lumnau, Sathian Suwannakham, Bannawat Saethao, Watchara Sriaoun and Pongsak Thaenna, hold the Thailand flag in Israel, January 30, 2025. (Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv via AP)
Thai hostages who were freed from Hamas captivity, from left to right, Surasak Lumnau, Sathian Suwannakham, Bannawat Saethao, Watchara Sriaoun and Pongsak Thaenna, hold the Thailand flag in Israel, January 30, 2025. (Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv via AP)

The Foreign Ministry is flying family members of the five Thai hostages released from captivity in Gaza last week.

The families will arrive tomorrow, says the Foreign Ministry, and will be reunited with their loved ones at the Shamir Medical Center near Tel Aviv. The visit has been coordinated with the Thai embassy in Israel.

Sathian Suwannakham, Pongsak Thenna, Bannawat Seathao, Watchara Sriaoun, and Surasak Lamnau were kidnapped to Gaza during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, and endured 482 days in captivity.

The families will stay in Israel until the freed hostages can return home to Thailand, says the ministry.

“Israel was overjoyed last Thursday to see the freedom of the Thai hostages restored, after being held in cruel captivity in Gaza,” says Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in a statement.

“I wish them and their families a good life, health, and freedom. We are still waiting for the remaining 79 hostages, who are held by the terror organizations Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.”

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.