3-11-2023 (BANGKOK) Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that the government is preparing for a large-scale evacuation of Thai citizens in Israel as the ongoing Israel-Gaza war is expected to escalate further. The decision was made after the Prime Minister chaired the National Defence Council meeting on Thursday.
According to the Prime Minister, the war has the potential to evolve into a regional conflict in the Middle East. Several countries have already begun evacuating their citizens from Israel to neighboring countries like Jordan and Lebanon. Thailand will also assess the situation and inform its citizens in Israel about the possibility of the conflict worsening.
“We have received information that cyber warfare and the use of drones will be employed. This raises concerns that the war may spill over to Israel’s neighboring nations,” said Prime Minister Srettha.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that most Thais in Israel who had registered for repatriation have already returned home. However, the government remains worried about those who have chosen to remain in the country.
“The situation is further complicated by the unknown number of Thai workers who have decided to stay in Israel. According to security agencies, there is a significant population, including many illegal workers. While this is a challenge, our primary focus is to locate them and inform them about the gravity of the situation,” stated the Prime Minister. “Even though they may be illegal workers, we are committed to bringing them back home.”
He assured that the government is determined to establish direct communication with those who choose to remain in Israel to emphasize the severity of the crisis. “I will instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Labour Ministry to obtain their names and phone numbers,” added Mr. Srettha.
The government is also actively working to assist Thai citizens who have been taken hostage by Hamas. The Prime Minister held discussions with cabinet ministers responsible for economic affairs and energy to address the potential economic impact of an escalated conflict.
Phairoj Chotikasatien, the permanent secretary for the Labour Ministry, revealed that around 20,000 Thai workers expressed their desire to continue working in Israel as they are not located in conflict zones. However, the government is concerned about the safety of all Thai citizens present in the country.
“We cannot force them to return home, but we do not want any Thais to risk their lives in Israel,” stated Chotikasatien. He also mentioned that Israeli authorities have reported around 60 bodies that have yet to be identified, with no confirmation if any of them are Thai nationals.
According to the Labour Ministry’s Facebook page, there are still 21,229 Thai workers remaining in Israel, while 8,637 have already returned home as of the latest update. Currently, 23 individuals are being held hostage, with 18 others injured and 34 fatalities reported. The repatriation of 26 bodies has been completed.
In a separate development, Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara met with Sameh Hassan Shoukry, the Foreign Minister of Egypt, in Cairo on Wednesday. Both sides expressed their joint stance with the international community, calling for an immediate and sustained humanitarian ceasefire. They also expressed support for constructive dialogue between Israel and Palestine to find a peaceful and sustainable solution.
Minister Parnpree requested Egypt’s assistance in securing the safe release of the Thai and other national hostages, as well as access to the Rafah border crossing for the released Thai hostages. The discussion also touched upon regional issues of mutual interest, with Thailand commending Egypt’s active role on the global stage.
The two ministers discussed their longstanding cooperation, particularly with an eye on the upcoming 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2024. They affirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in various fields through existing mechanisms for the mutual benefit of both nations.
นายกรัฐมนตรีประเทศมาเลเซีย ได้โทรมาแสดงความห่วงใยต่อสถานการณ์การจับตัวประกันไทยในประเทศอิสราเอล ซึ่งทางการมาเลเซียพร้อมให้การช่วยเหลือรัฐบาลไทยอย่างเต็มที่ เพื่อให้คนไทยเดินทางกลับมาอย่างปลอดภัยโดยเร็วครับ… pic.twitter.com/souW3BPxhO
— Srettha Thavisin (@Thavisin) November 2, 2023
On a social media platform, Prime Minister Srettha shared that his Malaysian counterpart had expressed concern and extended assistance to the Thai government in safely repatriating all Thai workers held by Hamas.
