International Courant
The 5 prisoners had been launched final month in Khan Younis in southern Gaza as a part of a stop -the hearth settlement between Hamas and Israel.
5 Thai topics which can be saved in captivity by the Palestinian Group Hamas in Gaza have returned for greater than a yr after being launched final month.
Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Sarusak Rumnao and Bannawat Saethao had been embraced by their households after that they had landed on Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday morning.
“We’re all deeply touched to come back again to our birthplace … to face right here,” mentioned Pongsak, 36,. “I do not know what else to say, we’re all actually grateful.”
Bannawat’s father, Somboon Saethao, mentioned he was “so joyful” and that his household would welcome his son at house with a standard Thai ceremony.
“I do not assume I need him to be removed from house once more,” Somboon, who comes from the province of Nan in North Thailand, informed the AFP press workplace.
Freed Thai topics with Minister of International Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa, third from the suitable, and different officers at Bangkok Airport on February 9, 2025 (Manan Vatsyayana/AFP)
The 5 males had been launched in Khan Younis in southern Gaza final month as a part of a cease-fire settlement between Hamas and Israel who paut the 15-month-olds on Gaza.
The Thai International Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, who accompanied the prisoners from Israel, expressed aid on their return. “That is emotional … to come back again to the embrace of their households,” he mentioned. “We by no means gave up and this was the fruit.”
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinatra mentioned they had been ‘delighted’ that they had been outdoors of captivity and thanked Israel, in addition to Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkiye and america for his or her work to safe males’s launch.
Notification from Udon Thani in Noordoost -Thhailand the place two of the returners households dwell, Tony Cheng of Al Jazeera mentioned, referring to authorities officers, that each one 5 bodily had been in good well being. He mentioned that the federal government would test them within the coming months to make sure that they will return to their regular life.
“We spoke with the household of Sriaoun (one of many prisoners), and they’re extremely enthusiastic to welcome him at house,” mentioned Cheng.
“His mom mentioned she beloved her religion in God all through this era. She mentioned she was fairly pissed off as a result of there had been little or no communication from the Thai authorities or the Israeli authorities throughout their imprisonment, “he mentioned.
“We additionally spoke together with his 9 -year -old daughter, and he or she mentioned she simply wished to present a hug.”
A complete of 31 Thai topics had been captured throughout the assault on Israel led by Hamas in October 2023, launched with 23 of them in 2023, whereas two folks died in Might final yr.
The Ministry of International Affairs of Thailand on Sunday mentioned {that a} Thai topic continues to be alleged to be imprisoned by Hamas.
“We nonetheless have hope and proceed to work to carry them again,” mentioned Maris, speak in regards to the remaining prisoner and the our bodies of two deceased Thai topics.
Earlier than the Gaza warfare, round 30,000 Thai employees labored within the agricultural sector of Israel, making them one of many largest migrating worker teams within the nation. Nearly 9,000 Thai have been repatriated because the warfare started.
The employees primarily come from the northeastern area of Thailand, an space with villages and agricultural communities that belong to one of many poorest within the nation.
(Tagstotranslate) Information (T) Israel-Palestine Battle (T) Asia Pacific
‘Actually grateful’: Thai prisoners return to Bangkok in Gaza after greater than a yr in the past Israel-Palestine Battle Information
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