Strengthening ties between Thailand and Israel

As the State of Israel marks its 77th Independence Day, we celebrate this special occasion with hearts full of pride, gratitude, and reflection. This day is a celebration of our resilience, innovation, and the enduring spirit of our people. It is also a time to honour the close and growing bonds we share with other nations — and among them, the friendship with the Kingdom of Thailand is a cherished and long-lasting bond.

- ORNA SAGIV

This year's Independence Day comes at a particularly complex and emotional time for Israel. We continue to confront the consequences of the brutal attack by Hamas terrorists on Oct 7, 2023—the darkest day in recent Israeli history. While we have been able to bring many of the hostages back home, we are still grappling with the pain of the fact that 59 hostages remain in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Among them are three Thai workers, two of whom were tragically confirmed dead and one whose whereabouts remain unknown. These losses are deeply mourned in Israel. These individuals, including the Thai workers, are remembered with sorrow and respect by the entire Israeli nation.

We strongly believe that peace will only be possible when Hamas, the vicious terrorist organisation responsible for the Oct 7 massacre, is no longer present in the Gaza Strip and governing it. As long as this terror organisation continues to threaten innocent lives and disrupt regional stability, the hope for peace remains elusive. Israel is determined to secure the return of all remaining hostages, to ensure that such tragedies will never happen again, and to defend and protect our people and sovereignty.

Despite the hardships, ties between Israel and Thailand are even closer and brighter. Our friendship stands as a beacon of cooperation, mutual respect and human connection. In recent years, this partnership has blossomed across multiple sectors, driven by shared goals and complementary strengths.