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A lovely gesture

From Farm Workers to Citizens: Israel's Extraordinary Offer to Released Thai Hostages

They came to Israel to tend fields and harvest crops. They never imagined they'd be offered the chance to become citizens of the country where they endured both their darkest days and eventual freedom.

A military helicopter with released Thai hostages arrives at the Assaf Harofeh hospital, January 30, 2025.
Photo by Yossi Aloni / Flash90

Thai agricultural workers who survived 480 harrowing days as Hamas hostages have been offered a new life in Israel. The Interior Minister's unprecedented offer of residency – a stepping stone to citizenship – comes as a group of five Thai hostages finally tasted freedom in January 2025.

Their journey began in horror on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists stormed across the border into southern Israel. Among the chaos and violence, at least 31 Thai workers were kidnapped from the farms and kibbutzim where they worked – peaceful agricultural communities that had become their second home.

For many, what followed was unimaginable. Manee Jirachat, one of the survivors, later revealed the brutal reality of their capture – including the shooting of two fellow Thai workers simply because there wasn't enough room in the vehicles heading to Gaza. Underground, cut off from sunlight and hope, they endured physical abuse and constant fear while being held by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

They had tragically gotten caught up in a fight that had less than nothing to do with them – and paid the price for nearly 500 days.

The path to freedom came in waves. First, 23 workers were released during a November 2023 ceasefire, their emergence from captivity sparking celebrations in both Thailand and Israel. The final five hostages walked free in January 2025, following intense negotiations involving mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Iran.

These Thai nationals were part of a 30,000-strong workforce that helped feed Israel, working its farms and fields. Now, they're being offered the chance to call this land their own – not as guests or workers, but as citizens.

For those who endured months underground, the sight of sunlight upon release was overwhelming. Many required immediate medical care, their bodies and spirits bearing the marks of captivity. Yet their freedom could mark the beginning of an unexpected new chapter.

As Thailand celebrated the return of its citizens, Israel opened a door few could have imagined when these workers first arrived to tend its fields. Their journey – from farm workers to hostages to potential citizens – stands as a powerful reminder that even in the midst of conflict, there's room for extraordinary acts of human connection.

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