Five Thai farm workers released by Hamas in Gaza last month have arrived home in Bangkok, after spending nearly 500 days in captivity.
Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao had all been working in southern Israel when they were kidnapped during the attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023.
There were emotional scenes on Sunday morning as the five men were embraced by tearful relatives at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport’s arrivals hall.
“I don’t know how to put it into words,” released hostage Mr Pongsak said.
“I’d like to thank all the officials who were involved in helping us out until we’re standing here.
“We wouldn’t be here without you helping us. We’re very touched and very glad to have returned to our homeland. I am truly grateful.”
Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said it was “very inspiring” to witness their return following their release on 30 January.
Somboon Saethao, the father of Mr Bannawat, said he was “so happy” and that his family would welcome his son home with a traditional Thai ceremony.
“I don’t think I want him to be far from home again,” his father told AFP.
Mr Bannawat moved to Israel nine months before his kidnap in search of a better income for the family, he added.
His wife, Wiayada Saethao, told BBC Thai reporters that the 15 months her husband was held hostage were a period of suffering.
“Don’t be afraid anymore. We’re home now. We’re in Thailand. We’re going back home,” she said.
After landing in Bangkok at 07:30 local time (00:30 GMT), the five were met by a small group of overjoyed relatives and government officials.
They had spent past 10 days at an Israeli hospital so their health could be monitored.
The five men will now make their way to their home towns.
Boonsong Tapchaiyut, a labour ministry official, said each hostage would receive a one-time payment of around £14,510 (600,000 Thai baht), along with a monthly salary of £725 until the age of 80, to ensure they did not have to return to Israel.
One Thai hostage remains unaccounted for.
“For the sixth Thai hostage who still remains in Gaza, we never refrain from action, we do still have hope and will do whatever until we succeed,” said the Thai foreign minister.
Last month, after the handover of the five hostages in Khan Yunis, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she was “elated” that they were out of captivity.
She thanked Israel, as well as Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and the US for their work to secure the releases.
A total of 46 Thai workers have been killed since October 2023, according to the foreign ministry in Bangkok, the majority in the Hamas attack and some by rockets fired by the Hezbollah group in Lebanon.
Hamas seized 251 hostages and killed about 1,200 people when it attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, triggering the Gaza war.
At least 47,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s offensive, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. About two-thirds of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Israel’s attacks, the UN says.
The release of the Thai hostages does not form part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal agreed on 19 January, under which 21 Israeli hostages and 566 Palestinian prisoners have been freed so far.
By the end of the first stage of the ceasefire in three weeks’ time, 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are expected to have been freed. Israel says eight of the 33 are dead.