Timing of repatriation hinges on the medical assessment of five individuals, according to the Foreign Affairs Minister.
PUBLISHED: 1 Feb 2025 at 21:32
UPDATED: 1 Feb 2025 at 22:04
Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa visited Israel on Saturday to oversee the anticipated repatriation of five Thai nationals who were recently freed after enduring 15 months in captivity by Hamas.
Minister Sangiampongsa, accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Songwit Noonpakdee, met the five Thai nationals at Al-Shamir Medical Center in Tel Aviv, where a video conference was conducted with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv has been tasked with ensuring the freed hostages receive adequate compensation from both the Israeli and Thai governments.
Compensation promised by the Israel National Insurance Institute includes 1,000 shekels per month (equivalent to 10,000 baht) until the age of 67, along with additional payments each year thereafter.
Minister Sangiampongsa also conferred with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar regarding the logistics of returning the five individuals to Thailand.
A military medical team currently stationed in Israel has been instrumental in coordinating the hostages’ recovery and will continue supporting their repatriation as quickly as possible.
Prior to his trip to Israel, Minister Sangiampongsa indicated that the hostages, released on Thursday, appeared to be in good physical health; however, he acknowledged that their lengthy ordeal might have taken a toll on their mental wellbeing.
“It is estimated that an evaluation period of eight to ten days will be necessary for a comprehensive assessment of their physical and mental health to determine their readiness to fly home,” he stated.
“Our goal is to reunite them with their families swiftly, as this will assist in their mental recovery,” he added.
The Minister expressed gratitude to Israel for its ongoing efforts in securing the release and also thanked the Thai military team that labored tirelessly for nearly a month to facilitate their freedom. He further recognized the contributions of Qatar, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey in this endeavor.
