Two more Thais working in Israel have been killed during Hamas attacks, while more reports of Thais being abducted or injured have also been made, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has said.
Kanchana Patarachoke, director-general of the ministry's Department of Information, said attacks and aerial bombardments continued near the Gaza Strip, with deaths and injuries reported on both sides.
She said the two Thai workers were killed by a rocket attack, raising the Thai death toll to 20, based on unofficial reports from employers and Thai nationals on the ground and pending official verification from Israeli authorities.
Four more Thais had been wounded, and three others reported abducted, bringing the injured to 13 and those who have been abducted to 14.
Ms Kanchana also addressed reports that Thais were among 14 hostages recently rescued, saying the Thai embassy had checked the list of names and there were no Thais among them.
A total of 5,174 Thai workers have registered for voluntary repatriation while 64 have confirmed they would remain in Israel, said Ms Kanchana, who also serves as the ministry's spokeswoman. There are about 30,000 Thais in Israel.
Asked about evacuations, she said the first 15 Thais are due to arrive back in Thailand at 10.35am today on an El Al flight.
Authorities have also booked 80 seats for Thais on commercial flights for departure next Wednesday, she said.
Ms Kanchana said the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has its transport aircraft on standby to bring more Thais back home as permission is first being sought from other countries to fly through their airspace. Upon receiving permission, the RTAF will send its aircraft to evacuate Thai nationals from Israel on Sunday and on Oct 24.
She said the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv is also coordinating with commercial airlines to arrange flights to evacuate more Thais from Israel.
Ms Kanchana said Thai nationals in Israel have also asked Thai embassies in Jordan and Egypt to help them cross the borders from Israel into those countries.
She said the embassies are ready to help them, though they must take extra precautions when moving across borders.
Ms Kanchana said the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv has been keeping in touch with Israel's foreign affairs ministry and various Israeli authorities to expedite the evacuation of Thai nationals from high-risk areas to safe zones.
Hundreds of civilians, including Thai nationals, have been evacuated to safe zones. They will stay in temporary shelters or work on agricultural plantations as alternative employment for the time being, she said.
Ms Kanchana also said Pannabha Chandraramya, the Thai ambassador to Israel and the Thai embassy's labour attache, visited a group of Thai evacuees in Tel Aviv to offer assistance and boost their morale.
Naruchai Ninnat, deputy director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs, said that when the first 15 Thais arrive back today, immigration officials will arrange their entry, and they will then be taken to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute for health check-ups.
Samas Pattamasukhon, inspector-general at the Labour Ministry, said the 15 Thais are entitled to 15,000 baht in compensation each from the ministry's fund that was established to help Thai workers overseas.
If they are injured with a medical document certifying their conditions, they will also receive another 15,000 baht each, Mr Samas said.
