Thai foreign minister and army chief visit five released hostages

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra speaks via videocall from Thailand with the Thai hostages who were freed (Thailand Foreign Ministry via AP)

A delegation of senior Thai officials including the foreign minister and army chief of staff on Saturday visited the five Thai nationals who were released from Hamas captivity earlier this week.

Surasak Rumnao, 32, Watchara Sriaoun, 33, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Pongsak Thaenna, 36, and Bannawat Saethao, 27, were released on Thursday, along with three Israeli hostages, as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

During the visit, the five men also spoke by video conference to Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said in a post on X after visiting the Shamir Medical Centre in central Israel, where the Thais were recovering, that Thai and Israeli officials were co-ordinating their return home soon.

The head of the hospital, Dr Osnat Levzion-Korach, said that all five men were in “stable, good condition” and were “beginning to open up and talk”.