Large crowds have been gathering at a central Tel Aviv plaza known as “Hostage Square” to witness and celebrate the return of hostages from Gaza. Among the eight individuals expected to be released on Thursday, five are Thai citizens. The atmosphere is filled with excitement as people wave Thai and Israeli flags in anticipation of their release.
Thailand was one of the largest groups of foreign nationals affected by the tragic events of October 7, 2023, with many individuals killed and kidnapped during the attacks. For decades, Thailand has been a significant source of migrant labor for Israel, particularly in the agricultural sector in the southern district near the Gaza strip.
As of Thursday morning, the Israeli government confirmed that eight Thai nationals were still being held in Gaza. Unlike the Israeli hostages whose names and photographs have been widely displayed across Israel for the past 15 months, the identities of the Thai captives have not been publicly disclosed.
The Thai citizens are expected to be released alongside the 25 Israeli hostages as part of the initial phase of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire and hostages deal. In May 2024, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs sadly announced that two of the eight Thai citizens still in Gaza, Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Sudthisak Rinthalak, were presumed dead.
