Mother’s Worst Nightmare: Thai Worker Lost to Israel-Palestine War – Whose Son is Next?

Gathered under the glaring sunshine at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province of Thailand, relatives of Thai nationals tearfully anticipated the arrival of their loved ones; the workers who were being evacuated from the unfolding havoc in Israel, their images captured by the anticipatory lenses of Thai media.

The serene tranquility of Nakhon Ratchasima district vibrated with an unpleasant surprise on a fateful Wednesday evening as Surangkhana Khunsri, a local resident of the serene Moo 5 village in tambon Nong Yang in Chalerm Phra Kiat district, gasped in disbelief at the heartbreaking news about her son’s demise in the conflict-torn nation of Israel.

Her 25-year-old son, Pongsathorn, a diligent Thai worker in Israel, was reported to have been held captive by the Hamas militants. Despite the alarming news, Surangkhana’s maternal heart refused to accept the possibility of her son’s death, nursing an undying hope that he was still alive amidst the unforgiving turmoil.

Her world crumbled as the Thai embassy in Israel reached out to her, shattering her hope. On the late evening of Wednesday, a phone call around 9 struck her with the irrevocable loss; her son Pongsathorn was no longer among the living. Although the cause of his tragic death wasn’t disclosed, the promise of further details about his ultimate fate left her in a state of bittersweet suspense.

Confiding her deepest fears, Sorangkhana remembered her heart-wrenching visit to the statute of Thao Suranaree in Muang district. With a trembling heart and teary eyes, she had prayed earnestly for her son’s safety, hoping against hope for a miracle that would bring him back alive.

In a display of heartfelt solidarity, numerous community members and kind neighbors visited her residence on Thursday morning, providing consolation and moral support to the distraught mother.

The diligently hardworking Pongsathorn, fondly known in his community as Green, had a humble aim; to build a new house for his family from his hard-earned savings, accumulated over countless days and nights of laborious work. The dream was left unfulfilled with his untimely demise.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed the increase in the Thai death toll due to the persistent Israel conflict, the tally now at 21, including one more Thai worker reported dead since Hamas launched its recent assault over the weekend. This distressing revelation further highlights the cost of ongoing violence that has stricken the hearts of numerous households, just like Pongsathorn’s.