JERUSALEM - Two Israeli and five Thai hostages released by Palestinian militants in Gaza are now in Israeli territory, the Israeli military said on Thursday.
It identified the five Thai nationals – apparently using surnames first in all but the second name – as Thenna Pongsak, Sathian Suwannakhan, Sriaoun Watchara, Seathao Bannawat and Rumnao Surasak.
After a chaotic handover, the military said that they will be met by Thai government officials at its reception point at a base near Gaza.
According to AFP, Wiwwaeo Sriaoun, mother of Thai hostage Watchara Sriaoun, said "It is confirmed everyone, my son did not die. Thank you God," after she heard confirmation that her son Watchara Sriaoun had been freed.
"I will hug him when I see him. I want to see if his health is ok, I am worried about his health," she added.
"Thank you, thank you God he did not died. We trust in God."
About ten family members had gathered at the modest home on their rubber farm in northeastern Udon Thani, offering support to Ms Wiwwaeo as she anxiously awaited updates, AFP said.
Mr Watchara was one of six Thai hostages still held in Gaza, but when the detainee exchange was announced on Wednesday, there was no indication of which of them would be released.
Originally from the poor, rural province of Udon Thani, Mr Watchara had moved to Israel three years ago in search of better wages as a farm worker.
Wiwwaro Sriaoun, 53, mother of Thai hostage Watchara Sriaoun who was captured during the deadly Oct 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, reacts with her relative as her son is released from Gaza, at her house in Kut Yang village, Udon Thani province, Thailand on Thursday. (Reuters photo)
Exhilaration, elation
Before news of her son's release was confirmed, Wiwwaeo spent the day glued to a tablet, watching news updates and hoping for the best.
"My friend called around 10pm and said the ambassador told her five Thais will be released, and my friend said my son could be one," an exhausted yet exhilarated Ms Wiwwaeo told AFP.
"I could not sleep from then until now. I was up until 3am and my husband and I went out for rubber tapping and since then I have been monitoring the news."
Mr Watchara's younger brother, who had also been working in Israel, returned to Thailand following Mr Watchara's abduction.
"We asked him to come back because we were worried," their mother told AFP.
Mr Watchara's aunt, Ratana Sriaoun, previously stated that the family would not believe he was safe until they received official confirmation.
"His siblings at home are thrilled and excited, but we've faced disappointment many times before," she told AFP.
Wiwwaro Sriaoun, 53, mother of Thai hostage Watchara Sriaoun who was captured during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, reacts while watching the news on a mobile phone with her relatives as she waits for the confirmation of her son's release from Gaza, at her house in Kut Yang village, Udon Thani province, Thailand on Thursday. (Reuters photo)
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she was "elated", according to AFP.
"Elated to get confirmation from our Thai Ambassador in Israel who informed me on the phone just now that five of our Thai nationals were indeed released today from Gaza," Ms Paetongtarn said in a statement in English on several of her official social media accounts, the agency reported.
"The Thai Government, including everyone here in Thailand, have long been waiting for this very moment."
She said the country "deeply appreciates" the efforts of Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and the United States to secure the hostages' freedom, and thanked Israel for taking care of them.
AFP reported a statement from the Thai foreign ministry that the released hostages would be taken to hospital for medical treatment.
"Thailand calls for the release of all the remaining hostages including a Thai national soonest, so they can safely return to their homeland and to their beloved families," the ministry added, according to AFP.
A total of 31 Thais were captured when Hamas launched its attack on Israel, with 23 released by the end of 2023 and two confirmed dead in May 2024.
During and since the October 2023 attacks, 46 Thai workers have been killed, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Thailand has approximately 30,000 citizens in Israel, most employed in agriculture, where they earn substantially more than they would in Thailand.
Last week, the Ministry of Labour announced plans to increase its workforce in Israel by 13,000 positions.
Initially, officials believed 32 Thais had been abducted in the Hamas attacks, but the number was later revised to 31.