October 7 · Personal story
Paiboon Rattanil
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Israel
Current outcome
Released alive · November 29, 2023
Released from captivity on 29 November 2023.
01
Life before
Paiboon had worked in Israel for more than five years. His family said he planned to return to Thailand within a few weeks in October 2023. His wife, Rungarada Saeken, said he had told her rockets passed overhead without affecting him.
02
Abduction
A coworker told Paiboon’s wife that he had been taken during the 7 October attack. Amarin reported that the family had seen a video showing him surrounded and crouched with his hands together.
03
Waiting for news
In Amarin’s report of a visit to the family on 11 October, Paiboon’s wife said they had lost contact and she still hoped he was alive. His mother, Pikul, prayed for his safe return.
04
Release and return
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry named Paiboon among four hostages released on 29 November 2023. The Reporters identified him among six Thai workers who arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at 13:50 on 4 December aboard flight LY081.
05
After return
Before the six workers’ scheduled departure for Thailand, the Royal Thai Embassy published a joint reflection by Paiboon Ratnin and Jakkapan Seekena. They praised Thai and Israeli hospital staff for their care and hoped that all hostages would return to their loved ones.