Relatives of Thai hostages recently released by Hamas arrive in Israel

In this photo provided by the Thai Foreign Ministry, an official, left, from the Department of Consular Affairs, talks to family members of released Thai hostages freed נט Hamas, before they travel to Tel Aviv, Israel, from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn Province, Thailand, Feb. 3, 2025. (Thai Foreign Ministry via AP)
In this photo provided by the Thai Foreign Ministry, an official, left, from the Department of Consular Affairs, talks to family members of released Thai hostages freed נט Hamas, before they travel to Tel Aviv, Israel, from the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn Province, Thailand, Feb. 3, 2025. (Thai Foreign Ministry via AP)

The relatives of the recently released hostages from Thailand have arrived in Israel to visit them, Hebrew-language media reports.

Thai nationals Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat and Rumnao Surasak were released by Gaza-based terror groups last Thursday after 482 days in captivity, in a side agreement alongside the hostage-ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Tens of thousands of laborers from Southeast Asia were working in Israel when the Hamas attack unfolded on October 7, 2023. Thai nationals were by far the largest group and the most heavily affected.

During the November 2023 ceasefire-hostage deal, 24 Thai hostages were released.

Five Thai nationals kidnapped by Hamas who were released from captivity in Gaza after 482 days on January 30, 2025. Top row (L-R) Watchara Sriaoun, Surasak Lamnau and Sathian Suwannakham; bottom row (L-R) Pongsak Thenna and Bannawat Seathao. (Courtesy)

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