Thailand’s workers in Israel hunker down as Iran strikes targets across Gulf
Bangkok has been here before: 46 Thais died in the Hamas assault that started the Gaza war. Now it fears history may be repeating
Around 60,000 Thais are working in Israel’s fields, factories and shops, drawn by “danger money” wages higher than those available at home or in competing markets. Thai authorities have said an additional 250 Thais are believed to still be in Iran, while tens of thousands more are working across the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar.
Some are believed to be working illegally, beyond official reach and registration.
A Filipino carer, Mary Ann V. De Vera, died in Israel amid the ongoing conflict. The deaths of four other migrant workers from South Asia – one in Bahrain and three in the UAE – from shrapnel presumed to be from Iranian missiles and drones have further sharpened focus on the risks facing South and Southeast Asian migrant workers in the Middle East.
Forty-six Thais were killed during the Hamas assault on Israel in 2023, which triggered the war. Dozens more were taken hostage inside Gaza. Several died in Hamas captivity, while 23 were eventually released and returned to Thailand.