2-11-2023 (BANGKOK) On Wednesday afternoon, the remains of eleven Thai nationals, who tragically lost their lives in the Hamas attack on October 7, were repatriated from Israel. The solemn ceremony took place at the airport, attended by Orna Sagiv, Israel’s ambassador to Thailand, and Pairoj Chotikasatian, the undersecretary of the Minister of Labour.
To date, three flights have transported a total of 26 Thai workers’ bodies from Israel, out of the 32 workers who lost their lives in the Middle East conflict.
In a parallel development, the Ministry of Labour is preparing a proposal for presentation to the Cabinet next week. The proposal aims to provide 50,000 baht in financial assistance to each returning Thai worker. Pairoj Chotikasatian affirmed that the Ministry of Labour would collaborate with the Budget Bureau to establish criteria and guidelines for the equitable distribution of these funds, ensuring that all returning Thai workers are eligible for this assistance.
Moreover, the government has allocated funds for offering low-interest loans with a 1% interest rate, allowing a maximum loan amount of 150,000 baht, repayable over a period of up to 20 years. This initiative seeks to provide support to Thai workers in managing their debts upon their return to Thailand.
In the midst of these efforts, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin addressed the call issued by the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv, stating that Thai nationals in Israel wishing to return to Thailand should gather at the designated shelter by 5 pm on Wednesday, marking the final day for their return. He emphasized that, despite the embassy’s announcement, the government stands ready to facilitate appropriate flights for Thai citizens in Israel who express their commitment to returning home.
