On May 20, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin spoke about transporting the bodies of the Thai workers killed in the Israeli bombing to Thailand. He said that Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha and Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, who oversees the Ministry of Labour, have expressed their condolences over the death of Thai workers and concern for the injured Thai workers. The Labour Minister was therefore instructed to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He had a phone call to speak with the Thai Ambassador in Tel Aviv, Ms. Phannapa Chandrarom. The coordination informed that the two deceased Thai workers were Mr. Weerawat Karanborirak, 44, a resident of Phetchabun, and Mr. Sikharin Sangram, 24, a resident of Buriram. The bodies will arrive in Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 26. The company where the Thai workers work will be responsible for delivering the bodies to the workers’ homes. The eight injured people are still in hospital; one of them is Mr. Atthachai Thammakaew, 28, a resident of Ubon Ratchathani. The remaining seven people have returned to their workers’ accommodation.
Mr. Suchart added that the Thai Ambassador in Tel Aviv further reported that five other Thai workers requested the embassy and will return on May 25. In addition, the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv has also ordered the Consular Department to coordinate with the Israeli authorities to take good care of the Thai workers. On Wednesday (May 19, 2021), psychiatrists were arranged to speak with the workers in the affected areas. Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu gave a briefing on the situation. He also expressed condolences to the Ambassador for the two Thai workers who were killed and eight more who were injured in the blasts. The Ambassador reported to the Israeli Prime Minister that with this series of explosions, the siren system didn’t sound, and there were too few places for refuge. She requested a further investigation, which the Israeli Prime Minister will look into. Thai workers who are already working in Israel and who do not wish to return to Thailand, and those who wish to move out of the dangerous areas, the Ambassador is pleased to proceed with the request.
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Division of Public Relations
20 May 2021
