Roongarun Wichanguen, sister of 33-year-old Thai hostage Vetoon Phoome freed by Hamas, has explained that her brother was not mistreated in captivity.

She said she got the news her brother was coming home early today.

“I was very happy because my hopes were very dim, but suddenly there was hope,” she told AFP.

She saw a photo of Vetoon, who moved from northeastern Nong Bua Lam Phu province to Israel five years ago to work on a potato farm, and was in disbelief.

“I zoomed in and I found my brother there in it,” she said. “I had a video call with my brother and his face was happy.”

“He said that he was not tortured, or assaulted, and had been fed good food. He was taken care of very well,” she added.