‘Truly thankful’: Thai captives return to Bangkok after over a year in Gaza
Al Jazeera
The five men were released last month in southern Gaza as part of ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.
Five Thai nationals held captive by Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza for more than a year have returned home after being released last month.
Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Sarusak Rumnao and Bannawat Saethao were hugged by their families after they landed at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport on Sunday morning.
“We are all deeply touched to come back to our birthplace … to be standing here,” Pongsak, 36, said. “I don’t know what else to say, we are all truly thankful.”
Bannawat’s father, Somboon Saethao, 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,” Somboon, who comes from Nan province in northern Thailand, told the AFP news agency.
Development marks one of army’s most significant advances since war broke out between army chief al-Burhan and RSF.
US president’s call for mass displacement in Gaza risks renewing the fighting in the devastated enclave, analysts say.
Move comes amid Donald Trump’s push to thin out the federal government and after order freezing US foreign assistance.
Displaced Palestinians languish in makeshift tent encampments as harsh winds and rain hit the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, the US deported 104 Indians on the longest such military flight used so far, before Modi’s visit.
US penalties target Iran’s ‘oil network’ as Donald Trump pledges to bring back ‘maximum pressure’ against Tehran.
The Trump administration’s offer would allow employees to be paid until December if they commit to quitting their jobs.
South Korea’s assessment comes as Ukraine’s stout defence takes a growing toll for every square kilometre Russia seizes.
Trump’s top aides say displacement would be temporary after the United Nations warns of ethnic cleansing.
Foreign Ministry says it ‘strongly opposes’ displacement of residents from Gaza after Trump floats redevelopment plan.
US secretary of state says he will not attend talks in South Africa amid spat over land expropriation law.
Palestinians have widely rejected President Trump’s plan, and one 72-year-old says leaving Gaza would be ‘like death’.
Establishing a Palestinian state ‘is a firm, unwavering position’, Foreign Ministry says, rejecting Trump’s Gaza plan.