Israel-Gaza war: Mother of Thai hostage overjoyed as second group of hostages are freed

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the Thais in the latest release were in good health and eager to contact their families.

“Everybody is safe, on the whole in good mental health and are able to speak normally,” he posted on social media platform X.

‘I danced’: Thai mum cries tears of joy after daughter released from Gaza

A first group of 10 Thai hostages were on freed Friday along with 13 Israelis, in return for 39 Palestinians from Israel’s prisons.

More than 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, mostly as farm workers, making up one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country.

Thongkoon said her son, 26-year-old Natthaporn Onkaew, worked in agriculture and was the family’s sole breadwinner, sending remittances each month to support his family, including school fees for his 12-year-old sister.

She said she had identified him in a photo released by Hamas, showing him and several other people in the back of a van, dressed in a green shirt and smiling and waving at the camera.

“I’m so happy, I’m so glad, I can’t describe my feeling at all,” she said.

Thailand’s foreign ministry estimated 18 Thai nationals remained captive after Israel told it the number abducted had increased by two from the previous tally.

“The Thai government will continue to make every effort towards the safe release and return of those remaining Thai nationals,” the ministry said in a statement.