Tears of Joy as Five Thai Hostages Return After Year with Hamas
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Synopsis
Thailand experienced a deeply emotional reunion as five citizens, held captive by Hamas for over a year, returned home to their families at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The heartfelt embraces marked the end of their harrowing ordeal, bringing tears of joy and gratitude amidst ongoing efforts to secure the release of others still in captivity.
Key Takeaways
- Emotional reunion for Thai hostages at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
- Five men held captive by Hamas for over a year.
- Families expressed gratitude for the Thai government's efforts.
- Concerns raised about the mental health of released hostages.
- Thailand's commitment to bringing home remaining captives.
Bangkok, Feb 9 (NationPress) Thailand experienced a deeply emotional reunion as five citizens, who were held captive by Hamas for over a year, were finally reunited with their families at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday, according to local media reports. The five men -- Sathien Suwannakham from Nong Bua Lam Phu, Pongsak Thaenna from Buri Ram, Watchara Sriaoun from Udon Thani, Surasak Rumnao from Udon Thani, and Bannawat Saethao from Nan -- received heartfelt welcomes filled with tears, marking the conclusion of their harrowing experiences, as reported by The Bangkok Post.
Clad in winter jackets, the men were visibly emotional as they embraced their families.
Pongsak Thaenna, aged 35, was overcome with emotion while hugging his 65-year-old father, Wilas. "I am indescribably happy to return home," he expressed, showing appreciation to the Thai government for facilitating their return. "We are all deeply touched to be back in our birthplace… I can’t find the words to express our gratitude."
Among the anxious crowd was Bannawat's wife, Wichayada Sae-yang, 22, who spent months praying for her husband's safe return. The couple has three children -- aged one, four, and six -- who had been curious about their father's absence. "Every day, they asked when he would come home," she shared.
For Sathien Suwannakham's mother, 60-year-old Nukan, her son's return was a moment she feared would never arrive.
"I visited countless shrines, praying for his safety. I even consulted fortune tellers, just to know if he was still alive," she disclosed. "Every time I thought of him, I cried. I worried my son might have already been killed and buried."
The release of the Thai hostages coincides with ongoing negotiations following Hamas's attack on Israeli border communities in October 2023. According to Israeli authorities, at least 240 individuals -- including both Israelis and foreign nationals -- were abducted.
Among them were 30 Thai laborers, marking Thailand as one of the hardest-hit foreign nations. During the same attack, 41 Thai nationals lost their lives. The first group of Thai hostages was released later that year, and efforts are ongoing to secure the release of the remaining captives.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, who personally escorted the returnees from Israel, described the moment as profoundly emotional. "To witness them back in their families' embrace… this is what we worked for," he stated. "Two families expressed that they never anticipated this opportunity today."
He also acknowledged the concerns regarding the mental well-being of the released hostages after enduring 15 months in captivity.
The minister reaffirmed the government's dedication to bringing home the last remaining Thai hostage believed to be in Hamas captivity. Additionally, authorities are taking steps to repatriate the bodies of two deceased Thai nationals.
"We still maintain hope and will persist in our efforts to bring them back," Maris asserted.
Prior to the conflict, around 30,000 Thai laborers worked in Israel's agriculture sector, making them one of the largest groups of migrant workers in the nation.
Since the onset of the war, nearly 9,000 Thai workers have been repatriated. Most of them come from Thailand's northeastern provinces, a region recognized for its farming communities and economic hardships.
As the freed hostages reunited with their loved ones, the emotional scenes at Suvarnabhumi Airport served as a poignant reminder of the suffering endured by those caught in the crossfire of global conflicts. For these five men and their families, however, the nightmare has finally come to an end.
