BBC5 Thai farm employees who have been kidnapped throughout the 7 October assaults by Hamas on Israel have been launched after being held for nearly 500 days in Gaza.
They have been handed over to the Crimson Cross throughout chaotic scenes together with two Israelis, shortly after a primary Israeli hostage was freed.
Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao had all been working in southern Israel once they have been kidnapped throughout the assaults in October 2023.
Thailand’s prime minister stated she was elated to listen to information of their launch and her authorities was working with Israel “in order that they will reunite with their households soonest”. One Thai hostage stays unaccounted for.
“The Thai authorities, together with everybody right here in Thailand, have lengthy been ready for this very second,” PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on social media.
“I maintain on to my hope that the remaining Thai nationwide will probably be launched and returned to us safely and speedily.”
For the households of the launched hostages, it was a day they’d lengthy been ready for.
Wilas Thaenna wept after receiving a name to say his son Pongsak had been freed on Thursday.
“I by no means thought today would come, every little thing has been too quiet for some time,” the 65-year-old instructed the BBC.
He revealed he had barely slept the evening earlier than, as he was so excited on the prospect of his son being launched.
“I do not know methods to clarify how I bought by way of all that occurred,” he continued.
“My son was taken captive, I misplaced my spouse, I needed to keep robust.
“First 5 or 6 months, I’ve misplaced a lot weight. It was distressing, I did not have energy to do something or go anyplace. I used to be frightened on a regular basis.
“Once I see him, I will give him a hug and inform him to return house.”
ReutersWiwwaew Sriaoun additionally sobbed because it was confirmed her son Watchara had been launched.
“The very first thing I wish to do is to hug my son and inform him I miss him very a lot,” she stated. “His daughter, Nudee, was additionally pleased. She has been praying each day for her daddy to return.”
She stated all of Watchara’s relations have come to her house in Udon Thani province to intently monitor the information.
“I’ve had hopes however I additionally misplaced hopes a number of instances already,” she stated, including she acquired a name on Wednesday evening however wasn’t positive if her son would nonetheless be alive. She too was unable to sleep, revealing to AFP information company she and her husband had gone rubber tapping on their farm within the early hours of the morning.
Sirinna Suwannakham, the youthful sister of freed hostage Sathian, stated her household had solely managed to maintain the hope alive as a result of they’d no proof he had been killed.
“If he had died, we’d have had a physique to carry a ceremony,” she stated. “However there was none. So we by no means misplaced hope. We all the time believed that my brother was nonetheless alive. We by no means gave up. We all the time waited for him to return house.”
Royal Thai Embassy in Tel AvivThe launched hostages will now be taken to hospital in Israel, after being met by Thai authorities officers.
Thirty-one Thai employees have been taken hostage within the October 2023 assaults, the Thai authorities has stated beforehand. One other 39 have been killed on the day.
The bulk have been launched in November 2023, leaving simply eight in Gaza, in response to officers. It’s believed two have since died, whereas the destiny of the ultimate hostage – Nattapong Pinta – just isn’t identified.
Almost all the international employees kidnapped throughout the assault have been Thais. Israel employs some 30,000 of them as farm labour, making them one of many largest migrant teams within the nation.
The discharge is a part of a separate settlement between Hamas and the Thai authorities – it is not a part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal agreed on 19 January.