Israeli doctors say Thai hostages in ‘fair’ health after 15 months of captivity

Thai ambassador to Israel Pannabha Chandraramya, left, welcomes Watchara Sriaoun, centre, one of the Thai hostages who were freed from Hamas, as he arrives in Israel (Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv/AP)

The mother of one of the Thai hostages held in the Gaza Strip for over a year said he had changed so much when she caught sight of him on a Facebook livestream she did not recognise him as he was released on Thursday.

Surasak Rumnao, 32, who was kidnapped from the southern Israeli town of Yesha on October 7, 2023, looked pale and puffy, said his mother, Khammee Lamnao.