The families of five Thai farm workers held hostage in Gaza for over a year wept with joy and hugged their loved ones as they arrived in Bangkok.

The five Thais smiled as they walked into the arrivals hall at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after being freed on January 30, as part of a ceasefire deal aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.

The five — Watchara Sriaoun, Pongsak Tanna, Sathian Suwannakham, Surasak Lamnau and Bannawat Saethao — landed in Bangkok at 7:30am (5:30am PKT) and were met by a small group of overjoyed relatives and officials from the ministry of foreign affairs.

Pongsak told reporters that he was at a “loss for words” as he saw his family. Bannawat moved to Israel nine months before his kidnap in search of a better income for the family, he added. The five returnees are now making their way to their hometowns.

When Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023, 31 Thais were abducted, with 23 released by the end of that year and two confirmed dead in May. One Thai national is still believed to be alive in Gaza.