Vilas Thanna, father of Pongsak Thanna, a Thai fruit farmer who was a hostage in Gaza, could barely pull out words while digesting the news of his son’s release after 15 months of captivity.
“When we are happy, we cry,” he said. “When we’re sad, we cry too. But these are happy tears.”
Mr Pongsak was among the five Thai hostages published on Thursday. Working on the farms in the often dangerous parts of Israel, Thai agricultural hand suffered a strong toll in attacks under the leadership of Hamas of 7 October 2023. At least 39 was killed and at least 31 were taken hostages, according to an earlier number from the Thai Foreign Ministry.
In November 2023, 23 of these hostages were published. She died two more in captivity, the Thai Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last May. (On Thursday night, a Tilanian Ministry Officer of Foreign Affairs said that total deaths were 46, but it was not clear whether that number only related to attacks on October 7th).)
The hostages published on Thursday were Mr. Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sirioun, Bannawat Seatao and Surazak LaMnao. The fate of one remaining Thai hostage, Nattapong Pint, is not clear.
Mr. Vilas, the father of Mr. Pongsak, said he was planning to go to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, to meet the plane he wore his son, although the costs could be banned.
Thai hostages in the previous round of editions in November 2023. They said they had to pay flights from Bangkok back to their home provinces at first. Thai Labor officials say they have paid off funds for returned workers.
Economic difficulties have encouraged thousands of Thai, especially from the Isaan region of northeast Thailand, to take over agricultural affairs in Israel, despite risks. In addition to those who lost their lives in October 7, other Thai farmers have been killed over the years in rocket attacks on Israel, including October.
But money earned in Israel can be changed in life, and the villages in Isaan are covered with modern houses built from this foreign profit. Some workers who suffered attacks on October 7th have since returned to Israel to complete their contracts.
Wiwwaeo Sirioun, Mr. Watchara’s mother, another of five Thais posted on Thursday, was gathered at home with a crowd of relatives when she heard of his return.
And she talked about tears of joy. As her family cheered around her, Mrs. Wiwwao’s voice rose to an excited shout.
“I hope she will be able to get home safely,” she said.
But she wasn’t sure if she could afford to go to Bangkok to meet her son.
For now, she said, she was happy to see her son’s name on the TV screen among those who were finally free.
