Bangkok demanded Thursday that Israel "immediately" relocate about 4,000 Thai nationals working near the Gaza Strip to areas safe from the fighting following the death of a Thai worker killed in a rocket attack, a Foreign Ministry spokesman says.
About 27,000 Thai workers like these tomato pruners work in mostly agricultural jobs for Israel, mostly in the Gaza strip area now a centre of violence in the Middle East. (File photo)
Sek Wannamethee said the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv has coordinated with the Israeli Foreign Ministry to move about 4,000 Thai workers 10-20km from the areas of fighting near the Gaza Strip for safety reasons, but no evacuation has happened yet.
These Thais are among roughly 27,000 Thai labourers working across Israel. Most of them work in the agricultural sector, Mr Sek said.
The demand followed the death of Thai worker Narakorn Kittiyangkul, 36, from Nan province who was killed in a rocket attack on Israel on Wednesday.
He died at his workplace in Ashkelon, 75km south of Tel Aviv, the Israeli capital, after rockets were launched at targets there.
Narakorn: In Israel since June 24
Mr Sek said the Labour Ministry had informed his relatives about his death while both the Foreign and Labour ministries are processing his documents before his body is brought back to Thailand.
He said the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv has set up a monitoring centre to assess the situation around the clock.
He said 38 Thai workers had earlier left volatile areas near the Gaza Strip.
"Moving the Thai workers out will be done without any conditions and the Thai embassy [in Tel Aviv] has also asked 96 employers in agricultural and industrial zones to allow the workers to leave for the time being," Mr Sek said.
The Foreign Ministry has also warned the workers not to risk their lives by taking photos or selfies in areas where fighting is taking place due to the danger, he said.
On Thursday, National Council for Peace and Order chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha demanded the Foreign Ministry relocate the Thai workers away from areas of violence near the Gaza Strip for safety and provide assistance if they wish to return to Thailand.
Gen Prayuth pressed both the Foreign and Labour ministries to closely monitor the situation, and to cooperate with each other to help the Thai labour force in Israel and nearby countries.
Sumet Mahosot, chief of the Labour Ministry's Department of Employment, said Narakorn's family said they are unable to travel to Israel, and asked authorities to return the body to Thailand for a funeral.
Mr Sumet said Narakorn had only been in Israel since June 24 this year, before the current violence started.
The financial assistance to Narakorn’s family includes 40,000 baht from the Department of Employment, as well as money from his life insurance. The Thai embassy in Tel Aviv is seeking compensation from the Israeli government, he said.
Regarding the safety of workers in Israel, Mr Sumet said the department has been in contact with Israeli employers to request temporary leave for Thai workers in order for them to be taken to safe areas.
The department has also urged the Thai embassy to pressure the Israeli government to allow the 4,200 Thai workers currently in danger-prone areas to relocate temporarily for their safety, he added.
He said the Labour Ministry has currently suspended sending Thai workers to six zones in Israel considered dangerous at the Thai embassy's request.
Meanwhile, permanent secretary of the Labour Ministry Jirasak Sukontachart said Narakorn was inside a greenhouse after lunch when the rocket hit. Keder Ovadia, his employer, called for a helicopter to take him to hospital but it was too late.
Mr Jirasak said the Israeli government will be responsible for the transportation of his body, as well as issuing his death certificate. In terms of his rights and privileges, the Israeli government must provide financial assistance to the victim's family.
Patcharaporn Kittiyangkul, the victim’s aunt, said her nephew's body will reach Suvarnabhumi airport about 4pm today.
"He was a hard-working man who decided to go abroad as he could not earn enough to help support his large family as a taxi driver in Bangkok," Ms Patcharaporn said. He saw that other relatives earned good money in Israel, she said.
Narakorn wanted to help his farming family with his earnings, she said. Moving to Israel cost him more than 100,000 baht and relatives lent him money for the trip.