Five Thai hostages who were held by Hamas for 15 months arrived in Bangkok after being released as part of a hostage-prisoner exchange deal with Israel. They were met at Suvarnabhumi airport by family members, the Thai Foreign Minister, and the Israeli ambassador before heading to their hometowns in north and northeastern Thailand. Forty-six Thais were killed in Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel, and 31 were taken as hostages, with five being released in January. The status of one remaining hostage and two bodies of confirmed dead hostages are still unclear. Israel is heavily dependent on foreign labor, with Thais being the largest group of agricultural workers before the attack. After the incident, many workers fled, but Israel began recruiting workers from countries like India to maintain its labor supply. Despite the attack, the number of Thai workers in Israel has increased, with 38,000 workers currently in the country. The released hostages spent time in a hospital outside Tel Aviv before returning to Thailand. One of the hostages remains unaccounted for, and Hamas is also holding a Nepalese student and the body of a Tanzanian student. Thai workers in Israel continue to play a vital role in the country’s economy, with many choosing to return to work despite the risks.
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