9-10-2023 (BANGKOK) Thailand is actively collaborating with Jordan, Egypt, and Malaysia to secure the release of its citizens who were taken hostage during the unrest in Israel. The efforts come as more than 1,000 Thai migrant workers find themselves caught in the midst of the conflict, with many seeking to return to their homeland, according to a statement by the Deputy Foreign Minister on Monday, October 9.
Thailand’s government disclosed that a dozen Thai nationals lost their lives, nine were wounded, and 11 were kidnapped during an incursion by Hamas militants from Gaza, which resulted in the tragic killing of at least 700 Israelis. Dozens of individuals have been taken hostage in the aftermath of these events.
The Deputy Foreign Minister, Jakkapong Sangmanee, stated during a press briefing that they are actively coordinating with countries that have connections to the entity responsible for the hostage-taking in an effort to negotiate the release of the Thai hostages. Jakkapong added that the negotiations have been “very positive,” though he did not provide further details.
Approximately 1,400 Thai citizens have registered for evacuation, with the first group to return home being those who were injured during the conflict.
It’s important to note that around 30,000 Thai nationals are employed in Israel, constituting one of the largest groups of migrant workers in the country. The ongoing hostilities between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters in various locations have created a precarious situation for these workers.
In response, Thailand has put two aircraft from its air force on standby for evacuation flights, along with medical personnel. Additionally, the country’s national carrier may also be enlisted to assist with the evacuation efforts, as stated by government officials.
One of the Thai migrant workers, Udomporn Jampahom, is currently holed up in a bunker in southern Israel with more than 30 others. He expressed his desperation to return to Thailand, emphasizing that he doesn’t feel safe in the current environment. Udomporn, a 37-year-old agricultural worker, revealed that the constant sounds of explosions and gunfire are causing immense anxiety among the group, preventing them from going outside.
He recounted that the initial sounds he heard were rockets, followed by gunfire, which prompted him to flee to a workers’ camp. Two days after the attack began, Udomporn shared that they could still hear bursts of gunfire from the bunker. The workers were seen resting on cardboard strips laid on the bare floor, surrounded by their belongings packed into suitcases.
Udomporn, who has two children in Thailand, expressed his uncertainty about when and how the group would be able to leave Israel, emphasizing, “I can’t stay here; I want to go back to Thailand.”
