The bodies of eight Thai nationals who were murdered in the October 7 Hamas onslaught on southern Israel arrive at Bangkok’s international airport on Friday, as repatriation efforts continue for thousands of Thai workers.
Ahead of the first repatriation of the Thai dead, Thai and Israeli officials laid wreaths at a small memorial ceremony yesterday at Tel Aviv’s airport. Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said that 30 Thai nationals are feared dead, while 16 are reportedly injured and 17 are believed to have been abducted.
There are about 30,000 Thai workers in Israel, mostly agricultural laborers, and about 5,000 were working in the area that was attacked. Two evacuation flights bring more than 500 Thais back to the country, with more flights set to arrive daily. Officials say more than 8,000 of the Thais remaining in Israel have expressed their wish to return home.
