A Thai farm worker whose family feared he had been killed by Hamas after the attack on Israel told them in an emotional video call: “I’m not dead” as his sister described his survival as a miracle.
Vetun Fume, 33, was taken hostage on October 7 while working on a farm in Israel, where he had lived for five years.
He is one of 10 Thai hostages released by Hamas as part of the first ceasefire in the seven-week war that began with an attack by the Palestinian militant group.
His sister Rungarun Wihagern said her younger brother “told me not to cry and to tell my mother I was coming back” during a touching video call when his family learned he had been released as a hostage in the Gaza Strip. “He said, ‘I’m not dead, I’m not dead,'” his sister said, calling his survival a “miracle.”
Wetun said to his family, “Thailand, Thailand!” – they shouted. when the militants approached on October 7. His sister said he was captured and held in the tunnels, although he was not injured or tortured. She said he was given food and water and did not appear to be losing weight.
His friends thought he had died after the attack in Israel, but his family watched the news sleeplessly, hoping he had been taken hostage.
“I saw the news that the hostages were going to be released, and then someone sent a photo. It was definitely my little brother,” she said.
Ten Thais are among 24 hostages released from Israeli prisons on Friday in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners. According to the Thai government, 20 of its citizens remain in custody.
The freed Thai hostages will return home after 48 hours in hospital, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Israel has not previously confirmed that four of them are in captivity.
Prime Minister Sretta Taweesin wrote on social media: “I am very pleased to confirm the release of 10 Thai workers who are being treated at the Shamir Medical Center in Israel as part of a coordinated effort by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
He called for the release of the remaining “innocent Thai hostages” as quickly as possible.
About 30,000 Thai nationals work in Israel, making up one of the largest groups of migrant workers, many of whom work in agriculture.
Among the released prisoners was the only known Thai woman held by Hamas, a factory worker and mother from a poor rural area that many Thais leave for opportunities abroad.
A source briefed on the talks said the release was not linked to a ceasefire with Israel and was the result of separate talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
The ministry thanked the governments of Egypt, Iran, Israel, Malaysia and Qatar, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross and others who were involved in the “tremendous efforts” that led to the release.
Source: I News
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