About 1,000 Thai workers have been repatriated from Israel since the deadly surprise attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct 7.
Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed all relevant agencies to assist in repatriating 7,936 workers registered with the government to return to Thailand by the end of this month.
Currently, six aircraft are serving the evacuation mission: two each from Nok Air and AirAsia, one from Thai Airways International (THAI) and the rest from the air force. THAI will mount repatriation flights until the end of this month.
The 1,000 Thai workers who have safely returned to Thailand are among the 7,936 who have registered.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, around 250 Thai workers were due to return to Thailand on board El Al, Israel's flag carrier, Flight LY058, at 7.05pm on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Thai Airways Flight TG8951 returned 280 Thais, arriving at 3.30am on Wednesday. Both THAI and EL Al flights landed at Suvarnabhumi airport.
On Monday, a group of 244 Thai returnees, including 33 Thai students -- 30 from the Princess of Naradhiwas University (PNU) and the others from Sakonnakhon Rajabhat University -- returned to Thailand on an El Al flight.
In addition, many more have returned via air force repatriation aircraft, one of which is a long-range Airbus A340.
Mr Phiphat said the government is waiting for Israel to finish verifying the dead bodies of Thai workers before transferring them back to Thailand.
The process may take at least a week, he added.
Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said 10 returned workers were injured during the attacks. Another 11 had respiratory illnesses, while 53 others have experienced psychological issues.
In response to Thai workers who have been held hostage, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said Thailand has sought cooperation with other nations in negotiating with Hamas for their release.
Israeli authorities have said they managed to provide safe passage to 99% of Thai workers from dangerous zones.
However, Mr Srettha believed more Thais remained stranded.
Thailand is in talks with Emirates and Qatar Airways to allocate repatriation flights for Thais in Israel, he added.
Pairoj Chotikasathien, permanent secretary for labour, said the Foreign Workers Administration of Israel has permitted migrant workers in the agricultural sector to travel out of the country and return in the future through a special process.
