The Israeli government has given assurances that Thai workers who opted to leave Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with Hamas can make a safe return once peace is restored. Yet, as the Israeli Ambassador to Thailand, Orna Sagiv, suggested during a recent media presser, the situation remains uncertain due to the volatile conditions rooted in the clash between Israel and Hamas.
“One of the key challenges is the unpredictable change of mind by the Hamas leader every day. This uncertainty hugely affects our negotiation progress. But, we prefer to keep the negotiations under wraps to ensure maximum efficacy,” Sagiv stated.
She also indicated that calls for the immediate release of hostages of all nationalities have been made by Israel. According to her, the rescue of foreign hostages is being prioritized by the government so they can make a swift return home.
When queried about the fate of Thais who chose to stay back amidst the conflict, Ambassador Sagiv revealed that those who did not opt for evacuation (about 22,000 individuals) are currently residing in peaceable regions, including Israel’s central region or near the southern Avara desert.
In light of worries expressed by some Thai workers about the possibility of not being allowed to return to work in Israel, the Ambassador made guarantees for an open welcome. She asserted, “Any worker who expresses a desire to return to Israel is heartily welcome at all times. The channels for return are straightforward: reach out to your previous employer or the embassy if unable to get in touch with them.”
She further emphasized that Israel strives to make the return as smooth as possible, with minimal procedural bottlenecks. Responding to murmurs of underpayment allegations, the Israeli government assures Thai workers that their pay remains at the stipulated minimum wage or higher, even compared to other regional countries.
In related news, Monday saw Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara express his concerns via Facebook over the safety of 25 Thais held as hostages by Hamas. The Thai government is pushing for their swift release, fervently hoping for the end of the war in Gaza and the restoration of peace.
Minister Parnpree extended his condolences to the families of the recent five Thai casualties in Israel, raising the total death toll to 39. Israeli Foreign Workers Committee’s Chairman MK Eliyahu Revivo also recently held a meeting with Thai Ambassador to Israel, Pannabha Chandraramya, seeking cooperation to expedite the rescue of Thai hostages.
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