First batch of Thai workers in Israel to return to Thailand on Thursday
Sign up now: Get insights on Asia's fast-moving developments
The Thai police patrolling outside a building where the Israeli embassy is located in Bangkok, on Oct 9.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Follow topic:
BANGKOK – The first batch of Thai workers in Israel will return to Thailand on Thursday, said Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn on Monday.
The repatriation comes on the heels of the attack by Palestinian political and militant organisation Hamas
Mr Phiphat said the foreign and labour ministries are working hard to evacuate Thais to a safe zone, and on plans to bring them back to Thailand.
A total of 15 workers will board two flights on Thursday and alight at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Meanwhile, the Thai government said on Tuesday that 18 Thais have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants, raising the previous toll of 12
Thailand’s Deputy Foreign Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee gave the updated toll and said the government was working to evacuate thousands of Thais away from the conflict, which erupted on Saturday.
A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said separately that nine Thai citizens had been wounded and 11 had been taken hostage.
About 5,000 Thai nationals were evacuated from high-risk areas to safety, Mr Jakkapong said.
“There are more than 3,000 people asking to return to Thailand,” he added.
The foreign minister had been in touch with his Israeli counterpart, the ministry said, and made a formal request to Israel to help secure the release of the hostages.
The ministry also said the Israeli police were using facial recognition technology to find missing people.
There are around 30,000 Thai workers in Israel, according to Bangkok’s Labour Ministry, and many of them work in agriculture.
The death toll rose to 900 in Israel, which has retaliated with a barrage of strikes on Gaza
Thailand is not the only country to have nationals caught up in the violence, with citizens from the United States, Britain and Nepal
