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Reuters

Agence France-Presse

When Natthawaree Mulkan’s mother saw that her daughter was among the Thai hostages released by Hamas, she was so happy she danced with her eight-year-old granddaughter outside their home in northeastern Thailand.
“I was elated … I came out and danced,” Bunyarin Srijan, 56, said pointing to her patio.
Natthawaree, a mother of two, was one of 10 Thai hostages freed by Hamas during the first truce of a seven-week-old war that started with the Palestinian militant group’s October 7 assault on southern Israel.
She was the only Thai woman abducted.

Her mother lost touch with her after the attack and then stopped following reports, dreading bad news.
“During that hopeless period, I didn’t watch the news for half a month,” Bunyarin recounts alone in her living room.
“I was afraid of seeing my daughter lying dead.”
At least 10 Thai hostages and 13 Israelis freed as part of Gaza truce deal
Some 30,000 Thai labourers, mainly from the country’s impoverished northeast, work in the Israeli agriculture sector, one of its largest groups of migrant workers.
Natthawaree is seen in a photograph from the Thai foreign ministry in a clinic, smiling with her hands clasped in a traditional “wai”.
Bunyarin said her daughter had planned to marry her boyfriend, Boonthom Phankhong, who was also abducted by Hamas and released on Friday.
“After she’s back, I’m going to take her to the temple to observe religious rites,” she said, wiping away tears.
Thailand has been trying to secure the release of 20 Thai citizens who remain captive. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Sunday that four Thai nationals were freed in the second round of hostage releases from Gaza.
“Everybody is safe, on the whole in good mental health and are able to speak normally,” he said on social media platform X of the release late on Saturday.
“They want a shower and to contact their relatives.”
Amid fragile truce between Israel and Hamas, what is next for both sides?
On Friday, Thai relatives spoke of the relief to know their loved ones were safe.
Kittiya Thuengsaeng thought her 28-year-old boyfriend was among the almost 40 Thais killed in Hamas’ deadly assault on Israel last month.
But on Friday night, Thai officials shocked her with news so good it seemed impossible.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” she said, describing the moment she saw a photograph of Wichai Kalapat after he was released from weeks in captivity. “I had a chat with him in the morning. He was still smiling. He told me he was safe.”
Roongarun Wichanguen, sister of 33-year-old Thai hostage Vetoon Phoome, said she got the news her brother was coming home early on Saturday.
“I was very happy because my hopes were very dim, but suddenly there was hope,” she said.
She saw a photo of Vetoon, who moved from northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province to Israel five years ago to work on a potato farm, and was in disbelief.
“I zoomed in and I found my brother there in it,” she said. “I had a video call with my brother and his face was happy.”
“He said that he was not tortured, or assaulted, and had been fed good food. He was taken care of very well.”
A Thai official confirmed to AFP that Vetoon and Wichai were among those freed.


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Thailand

Israel-Gaza war: Thai hostage’s mother danced with joy after daughter released by Hamas

Bunyarin Srijan holds her phone showing an image of her daughter, Natthawaree Mulkan, who was released by Hamas. Photo: Reuters

Natthawaree Mulkan, one of the Thai workers taken hostage by Hamas and later released, is seen after a medical checkup in Tel Aviv, Israel, in an image released on Saturday. Photo: Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs via Reuters

Bunyarin Srijan, the mother of a Thai hostage released on Friday, shows an image of her daughter, Natthawaree Mulkan, on her phone at her home in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Photo: Reuters

Thai Muslim leader slams reports of compatriots backing Israel in Gaza: ‘stab in the back’

An Israeli flag stands on the top of a destroyed building in the Gaza Strip on November 15. Photo: AP

The coffins of eight Thai workers killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas are displayed after being repatriated from Israel on October 20. Photo: AFP 

A Thai student returning from Israel hugs a relative in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on October 18. Photo: AFP  

A Thai national injured in an attack on Israel by Hamas arrives in Bangkok after an evacuation flight on October 12. Photo: AFP 

Israel-Gaza war: Hamas still holding 20 Thai hostages after freeing 10

Thai workers freed by Hamas pose with a Thai official (centre) in Israel on Friday. Photo: Thailand’s Foreign Ministry via AP

13 Israelis and 4 Thai hostages freed after delay by Hamas

Hostages who abducted by Hamas gunmen during the October 7 attack on Israel are handed over to members of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Saturday. Photo: Hamas Military Wing via Reuters

Emily Hand, 9, is one of the 13 Israeli hostages Hamas released late on Saturday. Photo: Hostages and Missing Families Forum headquarters via AP

A poster with a photo of Israeli hostage Noga Weiss is seen in Sydney, Australia in October. Photo: AFP

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Natthawaree Mulkan, the only Thai woman abducted during the Hamas attack on Israel, was one of the 10 Thai captives freed as part of a truce deal
Her mother lost touch with her after the attack and then stopped following reports, dreading bad news: ‘I was afraid of seeing my daughter lying dead’


Natthawaree Mulkan, the only Thai woman abducted during the Hamas attack on Israel, was one of the 10 Thai captives freed as part of a truce deal.


Israel-Gaza war

Israel

War and conflict

Human rights