ONE MORE Thai worker has died in the Israel-Hamas war raising the death toll to 31 while two have been taken hostage with there now being 19 Thais held captive by Hamas fighters, Naewna and TV Channel 7 said today (Oct. 22).
Labour Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Pairoj Chotikasathien said the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv had mentioned that the number of injured remained unchanged at 16 but one of them was still unidentified.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said before departing Saudi Arabia where he had attended the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council Summit that it is regrettable and worrisome two more Thais had been taken captive.
Negotiations on their release are ongoing, he said, adding that personal contacts with the private sector had to be used to ask airlines to fly Thais back home.
A Muslim airline had said they might be able to fly 200 Thais back home from the Jordanian border but it remains to be seen whether the workers could be transported to the airplane or not.
There is going to be a big meeting to follow up on this war at the Foreign Ministry at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Gaza City on October 21, 2023. Photo: Reuters/Mutasem Murtaja and published by CNA
Insert: Map of Israel and Palestinian territories. Credit: Yahoo News
Front Page: An Israeli officer inspects a burnt house on Oct. 17, 2023 in Kibbutz Beeri near the border with Gaza. Photo: AFP/Menahem Kahana and published by CNA
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Another 130 Thais return from Israel; 32 more flights likely
Thai people are not the target of Hamas: Ministry
Air force calls up reservists, THAI pilots in starting evacuation flights tonight
