Five Thai workers released after being held hostage for over a year in Gaza arrived in Bangkok on Sunday. Sarusak Rumnao, 32, Watchara Sriaoun, 33, Sathian Suwannakham, 35, Pongsak Thaenna, 36, and Bannawat Saethao, 27, were freed on January 30 as part of an exchange arrangement.

Five Thai farm workers released by Hamas in Gaza last month have arrived home in Bangkok, after spending nearly 500 days in captivity. Pongsak Thaenna, Sathian Suwannakham, Watchara Sriaoun, Bannawat Saethao and Surasak Lamnao had all been working in southern Israel when they were kidnapped during the attacks in October 2023.

Thais were, after Israelis, the nationality most affected by Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack, with nearly 40 farm workers killed and almost as many captured.

Five Thai nationals who were held captive in Gaza arrived home on Sunday after being released last month. Thirty-one Thais were abducted when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, with 23 released by the end of that year and two confirmed dead in May.

The hostages were five of the 31 Thais abducted by Hamas, while two were confirmed dead in May and one is believed to be alive in Gaza.