BANGKOK — Five Thai workers released after being held hostage for over a year in Gaza arrived in Bangkok on Sunday. Sarusak Rumnao, 32, Watchara Sriaoun, 33, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Pongsak Thaenna, 36, and Bannawat Saethao, 27, were freed on Jan. 30 as part of an exchange arrangement.

Five Thai nationals held captive by Hamas for over a year returned to Thailand on Sunday, reuniting with their tearful families at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. The returnees, dressed in winter jackets,

Five Thai nationals held hostage by Hamas since its attack on Israel have returned home after their release from captivity last month.

Thais were, after Israelis, the nationality most affected by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack, with nearly 40 farm workers killed and almost as many captured.

The release of the Thai hostages does not form part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal agreed on 19 January, under which 16 Israeli hostages and 566 Palestinian prisoners have been freed so far.

After spending over a year in Hamas captivity, five Thai hostages have finally returned home to an emotional reunion in Bangkok. Overcome with joy, they embraced their loved ones at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

A Thai farm worker held hostage in Gaza for more than a year said he felt "reborn" as he and four compatriots arrived home on Sunday to tears of joy from their relieved families."Thank you to everyone who helped me out,

Thai ambassador to Israel Pannabha Chandraramya recently said that now there are more than 38,000 Thai workers in Tel Aviv.