Five Thai hostages freed from Gaza now recovering in Israel hospital

The Thai government and everyone here in Thailand have long been waiting for this very moment,

Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on social media

When I see him, I’m going to give him a hug and tell him to come home,

he told the BBC

If he had died, we would have had a body to hold a ceremony,

she said

When I got the call on (Wednesday, Jan 29) evening from the Thai Embassy (in Tel Aviv) that five Thai hostages will be released, I was really happy. I couldn’t sleep all night,

he told CNA, his voice shaking with emotion

I told my son to keep strong – let’s wait for dad. He asked ‘how long?’ I said maybe next Saturday, there might be a release,

says Narissara

I now know for sure that he is coming home and that he is alive and safe,

says Wiwwaeo

She really wants to see her father’s face,

said Wiwwaeo

He asked me: ‘what’s going on, Mom?’

Narissara says

He wanted to improve our family situation. Our son was very young. We didn’t earn enough here,

says Narissara, who is from Nakhon Phanom, in north-east Thailand

I’ll cook whatever he wants to eat,

he said, ... adding they

I will say [to Pongsak], just stay home with me, you don’t need to go anywhere else,

he said

I just dropped him at school. Everyone is sad at the moment. I don’t know what to say,

she said

I was so happy that I could not eat anything. His father brought some food to me but I did not want to eat at all,

Khammee said on a video call with The Associated Press after the release of her son

I will hug him when I see him. I want to see if his health is OK, I am worried about his health,

she added between sobs

Come, come home back to your father, mother and daughter,

she said as she watched

I am so happy, finally I get to see my nephew,

she told AFP

My friend called around 10:00 pm and said the ambassador told her five Thais will be released, and my friend said my son could be one,

Wiwwaeo told AFP as she waited for news of the release

It's him, it's really him! He does not look thin at all, he looks the same weight but his hair is shorter than before. They probably cut his hair,

his mother said

We told him to come back because we were worried,

his mother told AFP

It is confirmed, my son did not die. Thank you, God,

Wiwwaeo Sriaoun said as she heard the confirmation that her son Watchara Sriaoun was among those freed