Thai foreign minister visits freed hostages in Israel

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Thailand’s Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara visit the 17 Thai workers who have been released from captivity in Gaza after they were taken hostage by Hamas during its brutal October 7 assault on Israel.

Cohen says the laborers had received “the most dedicated treatment” and that they would be entitled to the same welfare benefits as all other Israeli hostages.

“Israel is committed to bringing back all the hostages, Israelis and foreigners alike,” says Cohen during the visit to Shamir Medical Center in central Israel. He describes Israeli-Thai relations as “true friendship.”

“I promised my friend, the foreign minister of Thailand, that we will help rehabilitate everyone who has been physically or mentally harmed. Helping the Thai foreign workers, who for some farmers are family, is not a gesture on our part; we consider it our duty,” he adds.

Bahiddha-Nukara arrived in Israel today for what the Israeli Foreign Ministry says is a solidarity visit.

Cohen expresses his condolences for the murder of 39 Thai citizens during the October 7 attacks, and expressed hope that the remaining Thai nationals held hostage by Hamas, thought to number 15 people, will soon be released.