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Heartwarming

WATCH: Freed Thai hostages reunite with their loved ones

Finally: Tears and embraces at Israeli hospital as Thai hostages held by Hamas reunite with mothers, brothers after 16 months of darkness.

Thai hostages reunite with their loved ones
Photo: Maayan Toaf / GPO

In a touching scene at Shamir Medical Center (formerly Assaf Harofeh), five Thai nationals recently freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza were reunited with their loved ones who flew in from Thailand. The reunion comes just days after their release last Thursday.

The former hostages - Sathian Sawanakam, Pongsak Thanna, Banawat Saethao, Wachara Srihaun, and Surasak Lamnao - who were held together throughout their captivity, met with family members in their hospital rooms where they are still receiving care.

Family representatives for four of the five former hostages made the journey to Israel, arriving early this morning:

- Khammee Lamnao, mother of Surasak Lamnao

- Ratthanan Saethao, brother of Banawat Saethao

- Veerachot Sriaoun, brother of Wachara Srihaun

- Phuriphat Thaenna, nephew of Pongsak Thaenna

The emotional visit was coordinated through a joint effort by Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Insurance Institute, and the Prime Minister's Office's Hostages and Returnees Administration, working in conjunction with the IDF and Thai Embassy in Israel.

During their debriefing, the freed hostages revealed they were held together as a group throughout their captivity, spending time in both Hamas tunnels and darkened apartments or rooms. They described surviving primarily on a meager diet of pita bread, though their captors increased their food portions as their release date approached.

The former hostages also shared that their captors would periodically give them false hope by suggesting their release was imminent.

The families will accompany their loved ones back to Thailand following their medical clearance.

Welcome back!
Photo: Maayan Toaf / GPO
Freedom
Photo: Maayan Toaf / GPO
Thai hostages reunite with their loved ones
Photo: Maayan Toaf / GPO

Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.

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