Palestinian militants on Thursday freed three Israeli and five Thai hostages, captured in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
According to the statement from Israeli Prime Minister's Office, the five Thai nationals released today are;
Pongsak Thaenna
Sathian Suwannakham
Watchara Sriaoun
Bannawat Seathao
Surasak Lamnao
The five Thais released were working as labourers on a farm in southern Israel as the attack took place in 2023.
The mother of a Thai farm worker said Thursday she hoped he would be home soon, as Israel and Hamas prepared to carry out their third hostage-prisoner exchange.
According to an AFP report which quoted the Thai foreign ministry, thirty-one Thais were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, with most of them released by the end of that year.
The ministry said after the Hamas attacks that 32 of its citizens had been abducted, but on Thursday said the correct number was 31.
"I am nervous and hope it will be (my son)," Wiwwaeo Sriaoun, told AFP by phone.
Her son Watchara Sriaoun is among the six remaining Thai hostages held in Gaza.
When announcing the latest detainee exchange late Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not say which of the six Thais would be freed.
Hailing from the poor Udon Thani region of Thailand's rural northeast, Watchara moved to Israel three years ago to work as a farmer in Israel for better wages.
His younger brother, who was also working in Israel, returned to Thailand after Watchara was kidnapped. "We told him to come back because we were worried," his mother told AFP.
Watchara's aunt Ratana Sriaoun said the family was waiting for official confirmation of the release. "I keep praying for him," she told AFP.
"Brothers and sisters at home are very happy and excited, but we have been disappointed many times," she added.
Thailand has about 30,000 citizens in Israel, most of them working in the agricultural sector, where they earn significantly higher salaries as farm labourers than they would at home.
Thailand's Ministry of Labour said last week that the country will expand its workforce in Israel by 13,000 positions.
