Bangkok: The Prime Minister made a video call to encourage 5 Thais in Israel, glad that everyone is in good health and wants them to be checked thoroughly before returning to Thailand. He confirmed that the government will take full care of their rights and benefits.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, made a video call to talk with the 5 Thai hostages, along with Mr. Maris Sengiampong, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Rasm Chalichan, Assistant Minister to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Pannpa Chantrarom, Ambassador to Tel Aviv, and General Songwit Noonpakdee, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, who traveled to visit the 5 Thais at Al-Shamir Medical Center after they were released on January 30, 2025, and the Israeli government took them to stay at the hospital for 7 days.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs introduced the five Thai hostages, namely Mr. Watchara Sri-Uan, Mr. Pongsak Tanna, Mr. Sathien Suwannakam, Mr. Surasak Lamnao, and Mr. Banwach Sae-Tao. Everyone expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv for their assistance and support to the relevant parties until they were successfully released. All of them are in good physical condition and have received close assistance from the medical team from the Thai military working together with the Israeli military. They are ready to return to Thailand at the earliest opportunity and have already spoken to their families in Thailand.
The Prime Minister greeted and congratulated the five Thais and asked them to express their feelings. Everyone said they were glad to have been rescued safely and to be able to sit here. It was like everyone had been given a new life. They felt happy and proud and would be able to return home and see their families. Some said they could not sleep because it was too quiet, having been missing for over a year.
The Prime Minister asked if they knew in advance that they would be released, to which everyone said they knew 2-3 days in advance. Previously, they had reported on the news that they would be released during New Year and Songkran, but they had not been released until this time they had the opportunity to watch the news and TV that said they would be released. When they were told that they would be released in 2 days, they began to have hope that they would be able to return home to see their family and their daughter.
The Prime Minister asked if he was in there and could not contact anyone. The Thai representative said that he could not contact anyone until he came out. The embassy gave him a phone number and everyone contacted their home.
The Prime Minister asked everyone to be in good spirits. The embassy will take care of your physical and mental health. Don't worry that you have to look into it in detail because I want you to get better. Even though you feel like you have recovered, mental health is complicated. I don't want you to have any lingering suffering or anxiety. If you talk to an expert, sometimes whatever is stuck in your mind will make you feel lighter. It is considered a full-fledged help to reduce your suffering. However, I don't think you want to go through these processes because people who encounter major events, whether positive or negative, have to really go through this process. It is a good start to continue so that you can return to Thailand because I understand that everyone at home is looking forward to it.
The Prime Minister said the government has assigned the Royal Thai Embassy to follow up on the compensation and benefits that you will receive from both Israel and Thailand, as follows:
- Compensation from the Israel National Insurance Institute
- 1,000 shekels per month (approximately 10,000 baht per month) until the age of 67.
- Amount of 12,000 shekels per year (approximately 120,000 baht per year) (paid once per year) between the ages of 67-80 years.
- Amount of 15,000 shekels per year (approximately 150,000 baht per year) (paid once per year) when aged 80 years and over.
Outstanding income from employment with Israeli employers
- Welfare money for returning to the country due to war from the fund to help people who seek work abroad, amount of 15,000 baht
- Old age pension from social security benefits
The government remains fully committed to expediting the pursuit and rescue of the remaining Thai hostage to be released, including bringing the bodies of the other two deceased Thai workers back to Thailand as soon as possible.
The Prime Minister said that he was encouraged and happy to meet everyone today, even if it was online. When he returns to Thailand, he will be happy to meet everyone.