'Help the hostages', say parents of Thai trapped in Israel

As many as 30,000 Thai nationals are stuck in Israel; some of them have even been kidnapped by terrorists from Hamas during conflicts. The families of these migrant workers are in no better situation because many of them have completely lost contact. Despite the Thai government’s repeated assertions that it is in talks with Israel and working to bring its residents back to homeland. Natthaporn Onkaew, 26, was cautioned by his father not to go when he left Thailand two years ago to join thousands of other Thai migrants and work as a field laborer in Israel. “I questioned him, “Are you certain you want to travel to this dangerous nation where there are constant conflicts?’” Thawatchai Onkaew spoke at the modest family home in the tranquil northeastern village of Baan Nong Saeng. “But he said it was fine,” she claimed. Now, his prophecy has come horrifyingly true: Natthaporn is one of the dozens of hostages captured by Hamas militants during their historic attack on Israel over the weekend, along with 11 other Thais. His parents have not been able to contact him since Friday and recognised him in a photo on social media of hostages sitting with hands seemingly tied behind their backs. “He was going to play soccer with his friend. Then he hung up the phone,” his mother Thongkoon Onkaew said of their last phone call, her voice trembling as she sat with relatives and neighbours on plastic chairs around a table. “I want them to release my son … I’m speechless. It’s completely dark,” she said. “Help the hostages as soon as possible. This is the only thing I want to tell the (Thai) government.” Natthaporn is the family’s sole breadwinner, sending remittances of 30,000-40,000 baht ($812-$1,083) each month to his family in the village in Nakhon Phanom province surrounded by sugarcane plantations and rice fields. The money covers school fees for his 12-year-old sister. He is one of 30,000 Thais working in Israel, mainly in the agricultural sector. Thousands are now looking to return. Thailand’s government said it did not have information on the hostages’ conditions, but is in touch with Israeli authorities and hopes Hamas will not harm them. Among numerous nations with citizens caught up in the conflagration, 18 Thais have also been killed and nine injured. Thailand and the Philippines are among the largest sources of migrant workers for Israel, the Filipinos mainly in healthcare. (With inputs from agencies)