International news with relevance to Thai and regional readers
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) will send two planes to Israel this Sunday to fly 220 Thai evacuees back to Thailand, followed by a third flight next Wednesday to pick up more evacuees, Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkaphong Sangmanee told MPs in the parliament today (Thursday). The first batch of 15 Thais arrived this morning
Israel vowed to escalate its response to an attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas with a ground offensive, while U.S. President Joe Biden pledged support for Israel and issued a warning to anyone who might seek to take advantage of the situation. The Israeli military said dozens of its fighter jets struck more than 200 targets overnight in a neighbourhood
Two more Thai workers have been killed in Israel, bringing the death toll to 20, while the number of those injured and abducted has risen to 13 and 14 respectively, Kanchana Patarachoke, director-general of the Information Department of the Thai Foreign Ministry, said today (Wednesday). She also said that the number of Thais seeking to
Oct 9 (Reuters) – A careful campaign of deception ensured Israel was caught off guard when the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched its devastating attack, enabling a force using bulldozers, hang gliders and motorbikes to take on the Middle East’s most powerful army. Saturday’s assault, the worst breach in Israel’s defences since Arab armies waged
The Palestinian ambassador to Thailand has promised to help with efforts to secure the release of Thais being held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. The Thai Foreign Ministry confirmed that at least 11 Thai workers are reported to have been kidnapped during the Hamas attacks on areas bordering the Gaza Strip on Saturday.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday that democracy had thrived on the island despite increased Chinese pressure, and vowed that its people would remain “free for generations”. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as its territory, and has in recent years stepped up military and political pressure against Tsai’s administration. Taiwan sees near-daily Chinese warplanes incursions
The Israeli ambassador to Thailand has assured Thailand that the Israeli government is doing everything it can to help Thai workers being detained by the Hamas militants as Israel continues to bombard areas in the Gaza Strip. Speaking to Thai PBS in an interview on Monday, Ambassador Orna Sagiv also said Israel authorities are also
The Thai Ministry of Energy is more concerned over the prospect of a spike in global oil prices than oil supply disruption due to Israeli-Hamas war, according to Energy Permanent Secretary Prasert Sinsukprasert. He said the ministry is closely monitoring the war between Israel and Hamas, although the situation is unlikely to have direct impacts
A Thai woman in That Phanom district of the north-eastern province of Nakhon Phanom has told the Thai media that her husband, Somkuan, who worked in a banana plantation in Gaza, was shot dead by Hamas militants. Rungthiva learned from her husband’s friend, who also works in the kibbutz, who called her yesterday (Sunday), informing
The first group of 15 Thais will leave Israel on a commercial fight for Thailand this Wednesday and are scheduled to arrive in Bangkok the following day, Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee told the Thai media today (Monday) at the Rapid Response Center. The returnees will be met at Suvarnabhumi airport and given medical check-ups
A total of 1,099 Thais working in Israel have expressed a wish to return to Thailand and the Royal Thai Air Force has arranged for an Airbus 340 and four C-130 transport planes to evacuate them as soon as Israel gives the green light. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn told a news conference today (Monday) that
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas launched the biggest attack on Israel in years on Saturday. The following is reaction from around the world. UNITED STATES “There is never any justification for terrorism. We stand in solidarity with the government and people of Israel, and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement
