The Israeli Embassy published an article by the Israeli Ambassador to Thailand titled "The Return of Suttisak Rinthalak to His Homeland and the Bridge Between Our Peoples" to commemorate the last Thai labor victim of Hamas.
The Embassy of Israel released an article by Her Excellency Alona Fisher-Kamm, the Israeli Ambassador to Thailand, titled "The Return of Suttisak Rinthalak to His Homeland and the Bridge Between Our Peoples," commemorating the homecoming of the last Thai labor victim of the Hamas terrorists. The article's content is as follows.
The return of Suttisak Rinthalak’s body on 10 December, the last Thai citizen abducted by Hamas on 7 October 2023, closed a long cycle of pain but could not heal the emotional wounds. His return was not just a moment of relief but also a time for remembrance. This event forces us to reconsider the cost of the loss from the massacre Hamas committed on that dark day.
Forty-seven Thai people were killed during the Hamas attack on 7 October, and another 28 were abducted to the Gaza Strip and later released. Additionally, many suffered physical and psychological injuries from these indiscriminate brutal acts.
No exceptions were made based on nationality, religion, or belief.
All Thai victims were like the tens of thousands of Thai workers who came to Israel to support their families and build a secure future. The Israeli government has fully accepted responsibility for the futures of all Thai victims’ families. This is not only a duty but also a profound moral obligation.
The events of 7 October were not a battlefield conflict but a massacre. Hamas terrorists crossed into Israeli territory with the clear intention to kill civilians. They burned homes, killed families, murdered elderly and children, raped women, and abducted innocent men and women. Thai workers, who came to Israel to support their families through honest work, became targets simply because they were there. This is the true face of evil, the core of an ideology of hatred without political aims or reason—only destruction and true terror.
The ensuing war did not arise without context but began after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli civilians. Any responsible government must protect its people after such an attack. Israel entered the war with two clear and just objectives: to ensure Hamas can no longer pose a military or terrorist threat to Israel and to safely bring home all hostages, whether Israeli or foreign.
Most of the 258 hostages have been released. Only one Israeli hostage, Ron Kwily, remains in captivity. As long as even one innocent person is held underground, Israel’s mission remains incomplete. When he returns, we hope to proceed with the next phase of the Gaza agreement and realize a reality in which Hamas can no longer threaten Israel, its neighbors, or even its own people.
Israel does not seek war; it seeks peace—true, lasting, and secure peace. Peace that allows separated families to reunite safely. Peace that does not leave terrorists in power, stockpiling weapons and preparing for the next massacre. Israel’s painful history has taught its people that peace without security is an illusion.
The return of Suttisak’s body reminds us that terrorism knows no borders. It also emphasizes that the victims of 7 October were not only Israelis but included Thai workers, international students, tourists, and families from many countries. Remembering them is a moral duty, not a political act.
Since 7 October, there has been increased interest among Thai citizens to work in Israel. Currently, more than 40,000 Thais live and work in Israel. They are visible everywhere, becoming an important part of Israeli society. They are part of daily life and part of us. This is how we honor them, both in life and in death.
Meanwhile, over 400,000 Israelis travel to Thailand each year. They have long been familiar with and connected to Thailand. Israelis come to visit, learn, and build deep personal ties with Thai society. These two communities are not small groups but living symbols of trust, cooperation, and mutual respect. Together, they build bridges of understanding and unity, culturally connected despite being over 11 hours apart by plane yet close at heart.
Israel and Thailand have maintained close ties for a long time, based on mutual goodwill among their peoples. As we jointly remember the Thai victims of terrorism, we reaffirm that bond. We stand together against terrorism and uphold the shared understanding that the bridge between peoples should not be built on sorrowful experiences but on love, mutual respect, common benefits, and shared values.
Source: Embassy of Israel in Thailand