Four more Thais are believed to have been killed in the Hamas attacks in Israel last week, bringing the death toll to 28, with 17 still being held hostage and 16 injured, including some who have already been flown back to Thailand.

Labour Permanent Secretary Pairoj Chotikasathien said today (Sunday) that he has received a report, from the Thai labour attaché in Tel Aviv, that four more Thais are reported to have died, but this is yet to be verified by Israeli authorities.

Of the 7,540 Thais who have applied to return home, 94 have changed their minds and chosen to stay on to work in Israel. Altogether 187 Thai evacuees, including some injured, have been flown back to Thailand to date, with the latest group of 90 arriving early this morning.

Pairoj said that Thais, who are members of the Labour Ministry’s fund to assist Thais working overseas, will each receive 15,000 baht in welfare if they return to Thailand before the expiry of their employment contracts due to war. Those who are disabled will receive an additional 30,000 baht each and 40,000 baht for the funeral expenses of those who have died.

Additionally, according to the employment insurance law in Israel, workers who are 10%-19% injured or disabled, with doctor’s certification, will receive a lump sum of about 1.4 million baht. If they are over 20% injured, disabled or die, their spouses and children will receive monthly compensation of 34,560 baht for the spouses and 5,760-11,520 baht for their children until the death of the disabled worker.

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said that the Thai Labour Ministry will coordinate with employment agencies and Israeli employers regarding Thai workers whose employment contracts have not expired and who want to return to Israel to fulfil their contracts, or to secure overseas jobs for those who want to work abroad.

He anticipated that as many as 4,000 Thai evacuees will be flown back to Thailand this month.