The intense conflict between Israel and Hamas has not just affected the immediate parties involved. The reverberations of this war are felt across the world, with foreigners who reside in Israel finding themselves trapped in a war zone. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand voiced his concerns over the vulnerability of his Thai compatriots residing in Israel.
Primarily working in Israel’s agricultural sector, around 30,000 Thai nationals are now in a dangerous quandary due to the conflict. The war scenario laden with rocket attacks presents a frightening reality to these individuals far from home. Thailand’s Prime Minister has revealed the shocking truth that the highest nationality-wise casualties in the conflict are Thai citizens.
“Thais are innocent bystanders in this war, yet we bear a disproportionate number of losses,” stated Srettha Thavisin. The urgency of the situation demands strategic evacuation to ensure the safety of Thai nationals – a difficult task in the current volatile state of Israel.
While commercial airlines are eager and willing to aid in evacuation, the sheer volume of people needing assistance presents a logistical issue. It’s estimated that roughly 200 Thais can be evacuated per day – at this rate, it would take nearly a month to ensure the safe return of all 6,000 Thai individuals who have expressed their desire to leave Israel.
The option of evacuation by land presents another set of challenges, such as the necessity to cross the Gaza strip. Flying those in need to neighboring countries, like Egypt, is also a complicated task due to the fact some Thai nationals have misplaced their passports amidst the chaos. In spite of these hurdles, the government is stepping up and looking into potential solutions, ensuring local official assistance to those who have lost their documents.
According to a recent report by AFP, Thailand currently tops the list in terms of the number of nationals killed in the conflict, standing at a sobering total of 21. The need for ultra-urgent evacuation measures is underscored by this grim statistic. Cooperation has already been confirmed with key airlines like Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways International, and Nok Air, with repatriation flights being organized swiftly.
Meanwhile, General Songwit Noonpakdi, Chief of Defence Forces, is in conversation with his Israeli counterpart to help gather and transport Thais seeking repatriation safely to the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv. Dubai, UAE, and India are also being considered as potential safe zones for Thai nationals awaiting their return flights home.
Gaining permission from countries near Israel, like Jordan, to run repatriation flights is an additional option being explored. This, combined with the use of Israeli military vehicles to transport stranded Thais to the airport, makes up part of the contingent plan to ensure everyone reaches home safely.
While there is an inherent understanding that the situation continues to worsen with constant rocket attacks, hope is maintained among Thai officials. As long as Israeli airspace remains open, there is hope for the evacuation process to continue. Scheduled flights are due to bring back hundreds of Thai citizens soon, a relieving factor amidst these deeply troubling times.
In an additional effort to ensure the safety of Thai nationals, the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Jakkapong Sangmanee disclosed that the ministry was holding talks with Hamas for the release of 16 Thai hostages. Communication with Hamas is being facilitated through international embassies in Thailand that maintain positive relations with the Palestinians. Thai officials are also seeking assistance from ASEAN and other international organizations in this aspect.
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