October 7 · Personal story
Wichai Kalapat
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Kibbutz Nir Oz
Current outcome
Released alive · November 24, 2023
Wichai was released alive on November 24, 2023, and transferred to an Israeli hospital for medical care.
01
Life before
Wichai travelled from Thailand to Israel for work. Kittiya Thuengsaeng said she and Wichai had been together for three years and planned to marry when he returned.
02
Abduction
Two days after the October 7 attack, Kittiya was told Wichai was believed to be among Thai nationals killed. When an official list of the dead was published, his name was absent.
03
Captivity
After days without reliable news, Kittiya learned Wichai was among Thai citizens held in Gaza. She later recognized him in television images of hostages being taken toward an Israeli hospital.
04
Return
Wichai was among ten Thai hostages released on November 24, 2023. Thai officials visited the released workers at Shamir Medical Centre, where they received medical care.
05
Aftermath
Kittiya told the BBC she wanted Wichai to recover before returning to Thailand and said she was willing to wait for him.