Don Pila, Thailand (Reuters) – Anucha Angkaew, a Thai farm laborer, shares a harrowing account of his captivity by Hamas militants in Gaza after being abducted along with five of his colleagues on October 7. Angkaew describes being accosted by armed militants instead of the Israeli soldiers he had expected to see. Two of his colleagues were killed, including a close friend who was shot in front of him. The remaining hostages were forced onto a truck and transported into Gaza.
Angkaew’s account provides insight into the brutal treatment endured by many hostages. He speaks of sleeping on a sandy floor and enduring beatings by Hamas captors, who specifically targeted Israelis for more severe abuse. Chess games and memories of family helped the Thai hostages maintain hope during their captivity. Other released hostages have also spoken of beatings and death threats.
Hamas officials have not responded to requests for comment on Angkaew’s account. The Thai laborer, who spent 50 days in captivity, returned to his family home in rural northeastern Thailand in November. He describes his time in captivity, mostly spent in small underground rooms accessed through narrow tunnels. Around 240 people, including Israelis and foreign nationals, were abducted by Hamas militants on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people.
Israel launched a retaliatory bombing campaign and ground offensive after the attack, resulting in the deaths of over 15,000 people. Around 130 people, including eight Thais, remain in captivity.
Prior to the conflict, around 30,000 Thai laborers worked in Israel’s agriculture sector, making them one of the country’s largest migrant worker groups. Thailand recognized Palestine as a sovereign state in 2012 and maintains friendly ties with Israel.
During their captivity, the Thai hostages were subjected to beatings, meager rations, and dire living conditions. They slept on the bare floor, received two meals a day, and shared two bottles of water among them. Their toilet was a hole in the ground, and they were under strict orders not to talk among themselves.
Anucha’s release came unexpectedly after a guard informed them it was time to go home. The four Thais were led through tunnels for two hours before reaching a Hamas facility where a few female Israeli hostages were also waiting. They were eventually released to the Red Cross and driven out of Gaza.
Anucha expresses gratitude for his release but remains haunted by the loss of his friend during the ordeal.