Israel-Gaza Conflict: Innocent Hostage Mistakenly Killed by Israeli Forces

Wichian Temthong, a 37-year-old Thai farm worker, reflects on his time as a hostage in Israel. After being released along with 22 others by Hamas, Wichian is back in Thailand, living with his wife in a small room in an industrial area. While he survived the ordeal, three young Israeli men he met during captivity were tragically shot dead by Israeli soldiers. Wichian had originally gone to Israel to find better work and ended up in an avocado orchard on a kibbutz. One morning, he woke up to the sound of gunfire and sought shelter with his fellow Thai workers. However, gunmen burst in, resulting in a brutal beating. He was eventually taken to tunnels deep under Gaza, where he was kept for 51 days. Conditions were dire, with minimal food and communication through drawings and gestures. Despite the harsh circumstances, Wichian managed to find solace in thinking about his family and survived through meditation. He recalls the other hostages he encountered and attempted to communicate with using hand gestures and Thai words. Wichian eventually returned to Thailand and reunited with other released hostages, where they shared their emotions and wondered how they had managed to survive. Now, Wichian is left with a substantial debt to repay, and he and his wife must work low-paying jobs to support themselves and their children. Despite the challenges, he would consider going back to Israel for the opportunity to earn more.