Five held in gas released by Hamas

Five Thai farm workers who were abducted during the attacks on October 7 by Hamas in Israel were released after being held in Gaza nearly 500 days.

They were handed over to the Red Cross During chaotic scenes along with two IsraelisShortly after the release of the first Israeli hostage.

Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Srouin, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao worked in southern Israel when they were abducted during October 2023 attacks.

Thailand Prime Minister said she was delighted to hear news about their release and her government works with Israel, “so that they can reunite with their families.” A Thai hostage remains inseparable for.

“The Thai government, including everyone here in Thailand, has long been waiting for this moment,” Paetongtarn Shinawatra in social media published.

“I stick to my hope that the other Thai national will be released and returned to us safely and quickly.”

For the families of the liberated hostages, it was a day they had been waiting for a long time.

Wilas Taena cries after receiving a call to say that his son Pongsak was released on Thursday.

“I never thought that day would come, everything is too quiet for a while,” the 65-year-old told the BBC.

He revealed that he had barely slept the night before, as he was so excited by his son's perspective to be released.

“I don't know how to explain how I went through everything that happened,” he continued.

“My son was captured, I lost my wife. I had to stay strong.

“First five or six months, I lost so much. It was scary, I had no power to do anything or go anywhere. I was worried all the time.

“When I see him, I will hug him and tell him to go home.”

Wiwwaew Sriaoun was also sobbing as it was confirmed that her son Watchara was released.

“The first thing I want to do is hug my son and tell him that I miss a lot,” she said. “His daughter, Nudi, was also happy. She prays every day to return her father.”

She said that all Watchara relatives came to her home in the province of Udon Thani to watch the news carefully.

“I had hopes, but I also lost hope several times,” she said, adding that she had received a call on Wednesday night, but she wasn't sure if her son would still be alive. She also failed to sleep, revealing a news agency, she and her husband were going to fuck their farm in the early hours of the morning.

Sirina Suvanhakham, a smaller sister of Freed hostage Satian, said her family had only managed to keep the hope alive because there was no proof that he had been killed.

“If he had died, we would have had a body to hold a ceremony,” she said. “But there was no one. So we never lost hope. We have always believed that my brother was still alive. We never gave up. We have always waited for him to go home.”

The liberated hostages were taken to a hospital in Israel after being greeted by Thailand government officials. They are expected to return to Thailand within 10 days.

Thirty-one Thai workers were taken hostage in October 2023 attacks, the Thailand government said earlier. More than 40 were killed on the day.

The majority were released in November 2023, leaving only eight in gas, according to employees. It is believed that two have died since then, while the fate of the final hostage – Nattapong Pinta – is not known.

Almost all foreign workers abducted during the attack were Thai. Israel operates about 30,000 of them as agricultural work, making them one of the largest groups of migrants in the country.

Liberation is part of an individual agreement between Hamas and the Thai government – this is not part of the Israel -Hama fire termination transaction agreed on January 19th.