Unveiling the Untold Plight: Tragic Thai Deaths Expose Harsh Reality of Asian Laborers in Israeli Agriculture

Manee Jirachart, along with his father Chumporn and many other capable men from their village in northeastern Thailand, decided to relocate to Israel with hopes of finding employment and pursuing a better future.

Due to the limited job prospects in their rural community, Manee considered himself fortunate when he secured a cleaning job at a government office in southern Israel, close to the Gaza Strip. This opportunity appeared promising for him.

He had been employed in that position for almost five years when he was kidnapped and held captive last weekend by Hamas militants who were responsible for the recent wave of murders and kidnappings in Israel. As a result, the 29-year-old joined numerous other foreign individuals who were affected by the devastating attack, causing immense sorrow for families globally.

Numerous individuals from countries including the United States, Canada, the UK, and France arrived, a significant portion of whom possessed dual Israeli citizenship and resided in the kibbutzim specifically targeted by Hamas gunmen or had been attending the music festival where numerous casualties occurred.

However, in addition to the foreigners who tragically lost their lives or were taken captive by Hamas, there were also migrant workers from Asia, originating from predominantly impoverished rural families and lacking any familial ties to either Israel or the Palestinian Territories. These migrant workers are predominantly employed in the country's agricultural, construction, and healthcare sectors.

According to the Ambassador of Nepal to Israel, at least 10 agriculture students from Nepal were killed when Hamas militants attacked the Alumim kibbutz, a farming community located near Gaza. Additionally, one Nepali student is currently missing. The government of the Philippines has reported that two Filipino nationals were also killed in the incident.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023.

Fatima Shbair/AP

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However, it is Thailand that has been one of the largest contributors of migrant labor in Israel for many years and has faced one of the highest casualties among nations other than Israel itself. Thai authorities have reported that as of Thursday, a minimum of 21 Thai nationals have lost their lives, while there are concerns that at least 14 others have been taken captive by Hamas. The current whereabouts of these individuals remain unknown, as confirmed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

According to Phil Robertson, Deputy Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, Thailand has been the dominant force in the Israeli agriculture foreign migrant worker market for the past ten years. He mentioned that around 20,000 Thai workers resided in different isolated farms and desert regions throughout Israel, including those near the Gaza Strip. Consequently, it is not surprising that many of them were exposed to danger when Hamas fighters arrived.

Each day throughout this week, the count has gradually increased as additional information emerges, bringing forth renewed anguish for Thai families residing thousands of miles away from the most recent conflict in the Middle East.

Many tearful family reunions took place. Thousands more are awaiting evacuation assistance from the Thai government.

Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty Images

Around 5,000 Thai workers in the "fighting zone," as mentioned by Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn in a Thai television interview, are currently seeking to return home to their concerned families. The looming prospect of a ground invasion in Gaza, with Israel amassing a large number of troops on the border, has heightened fears among many Thai citizens that they might inadvertently get caught in the crossfire.

Begging for my sons release

Manee had talked to his father Chumporn on the phone just hours before the attack.

Chumporn, in a phone interview with CNN, shared that he had conversed with Manee earlier in the day and had planned to speak with him again in the evening. The ongoing rocket attacks towards Israel triggered memories of Chumporn's own past experiences living and working in the area. Realizing the potential rapid escalation of danger, the 50-year-old strongly advised his son to stay indoors and seek shelter in a bunker if necessary.

Hours later, he came across images on social media depicting his son seated barefoot and cross-legged alongside other male captives. Their hands were bound behind their backs, while an armed militant held a rifle in front of them. Chumporn, who verified the authenticity of the photo, shared it with CNN. The image seemed to capture an underground space.

"I couldn't believe it. I initially thought it was a prank," Chumporn expressed. "I made numerous calls, but he didn't answer - that's when I began to accept the reality of it."

"We (Thais) have no involvement in the conflicts between Israel and Palestine. Our purpose is solely to work and earn money for improved livelihoods," he elaborated.

"I am begging for my sons release. I need to have him back, in good shape - like before he left Thailand."

Thai workers at a vineyard in southern Israel.

David Silverman/Getty Images/FILE

Palestinian workers werent welcome anymore

Migrant workers from Asia make up more than half of Israels foreign work force, often taking on jobs as caregivers and within the construction industry.

Construction workers from China, who are employed by numerous firms that have profitable contracts with Israeli real estate developers, have become victims of the ongoing violence. Among the casualties, Paul Castelvi, a Filipino worker who had been employed in Israel for five years, was a significant source of income for his family. They are in disbelief over his tragic death caused by Hamas fighters.

"He was one of the caregivers attending to elderly individuals when Hamas militants invaded their residence," shared Nick, the elderly father of Castelvis, with CNN affiliate CNN Philippines at their residence in San Fernando city, located in the northwestern Pampanga province.

"They displayed a complete lack of empathy and demonstrated no compassion."

"People will confirm the extraordinary kindness and goodness of my son. He would have courageously defended his employer and tragically, he was shot by Hamas fighters, who then abducted his employer, leaving Paul to suffer from his gunshot wound," he wept.

"We are heartbroken over the loss of our beloved son. He was simply trying to earn a livelihood, so it is unfathomable why they would subject him to such cruelty."

According to Assia Ladizhinskaya, a representative from Kav LaOved, a non-profit organization dedicated to labor rights in the area, the decline in the employment of Palestinian workers can be attributed partly to a previous surge in terror attacks in Israel. She explained that during the 1990s, migrant workers started taking the place of Palestinians in construction and agriculture, as Palestinians became unwelcome and considered unreliable due to frequent lockdowns and security concerns.

Now, numerous individuals find themselves entangled in these recurring security problems, a longstanding conflict that has remained unresolved for decades. Human Rights Watch has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, emphasizing that Thai workers, as well as Nepalese and Filipinos, were merely seeking to earn income to provide for their families.

"Such targeting of civilians is clearly a war crime and inexcusable in any circumstance," said Robertson.

Survivors return home

On Thursday, the first 41 Thai migrants arrived in Bangkok after a harrowing journey, reuniting with emotional family members. Photos and videos from the agency depicted two individuals being assisted through the airport in wheelchairs.

According to Andy Hall, a British researcher and specialist in migrant worker rights, the migration of workers to hazardous conflict zones in search of employment, lacking adequate protection and legal enforcement, has been a longstanding and significant issue for many years.

Young Israelis queue to board a flight to Tel Aviv at the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru 10 October 2023.

Paolo Aguilar/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

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Hall informed CNN that there is a considerable demand for migrant workers due to minimal government oversight. Additionally, he mentioned that individuals often pay exorbitant recruitment fees to secure employment opportunities. Thailand serves as a primary hub for migrant labor, primarily attracting individuals from impoverished neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, and conflict-ridden Myanmar.

The current situation highlights the direness of the circumstances, indicating the necessity for more robust protocols to safeguard individuals even prior to their migration. To address this, authorities must conduct a higher number of risk assessments and thoroughly contemplate the potential risks involved. Presently, a significant number of workers in Israel are confined in an area characterized by the UN as being on the brink of a critical turning point, as tensions rise and Israeli actions against Gaza intensify.

Content Then there are those who, like Manee Jirachart, find themselves hostage in a foreign land they hoped would help them have a better life.

There are up to 150 hostages being held in Gaza, Israeli authorities believe. It is unclear how many are foreign nationals.

In a foreign land they had hoped would provide a better life, individuals like Manee Jirachart find themselves held hostage.

Israeli authorities estimate that there are around 150 hostages currently being detained in Gaza, though it remains uncertain how many of them are foreign nationals.

"The lives of the scores of individuals are being relentlessly endangered, as they fall victim to horrendous threats," declared Martin Griffiths, the leading humanitarian figure at the United Nations. Griffiths issued this statement earlier in the week.

"We urgently demand a cessation of violence. It is imperative that the captives be treated with utmost respect for their humanity, and that immediate action is taken to liberate the hostages."

With additional reporting from CNNs Kathleen Magramo and Xiaofei Xu.