Srithat Kawao, 43: Thai agricultural worker grew avocados in Israel
Murdered by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7
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Srithat Kawao, 43, an agricultural worker from Kamphaeng Phet in central Thailand, was murdered by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.
Kurat Kha-Fluan, a Thai laborer who survived the attack on the kibbutz, told Ma’ariv, “I’ll never forget the terrifying and horrible moments when the Hamas came to our shelter and started shooting in every direction — I mostly remember chaos and confusion.”
In total, 11 Thai nationals were murdered by Hamas in Nir Oz — including Thanakrit Prakotwong, Sakda Surakhai and brothers Apichart and Phongthep Kusaram — and five others were kidnapped to Gaza. Two of those kidnapped were released in November 2023, two more were freed in January 2025 and the body of one, Pinta Nattapong, was recovered by the IDF in June 2025.
Srithat’s body arrived back in Thailand on October 26, and his funeral and cremation ceremony was held on October 29. He is survived by his wife, Mai, and his mother, Sawang.
Mai told a local news outlet that she last spoke to her husband via video chat around 7 a.m. on October 7, before he told her he had to go hide from the bombing. She was not able to reach him again, and later came across footage which appeared to show him being shot dead by the terrorists.
It took two weeks before authorities confirmed to his family that Srithat had been killed.
According to his family, Srithat worked planting and harvesting cassava and avocado in fields near Gaza.
His mother told a local news outlet that her son was the breadwinner of the family and sent money home to his loved ones, including to help them build a house.
“The incident that happened was a great loss, but at least I am glad that my son’s body was brought back to perform religious rites for the last time,” she said.
“Deep down, I still can’t say anything and am trying to come to terms with this loss. I admit that I never expected this kind of thing to happen to my family, and I don’t want it to happen to other families of migrant workers who go to work abroad,” she said.
The Times of Israel Community.