October 7 · Personal story
Withoon Phumee
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
A farm in southern Israel
Current outcome
Released alive · November 24, 2023
Released on November 24, 2023; family spoke with him by video call.
01
Work far from home
Withoon Phumee was 33 and came from Nong Bua Lamphu in northeastern Thailand. He had lived and worked in Israel for nearly five years, on potato and pomegranate farms. His sister Rungarun said he sent part of his pay to their mother in Thailand and had gone abroad to save for his future. He had worked late before October 7 and was asleep in his room at the farm when the attack began. His work contract had recently ended, and he had been planning to return to Thailand.
02
A face in the release photo
During the attack on October 7, Withoon was taken from the farm where he worked. His sister said that one of the attackers told the others not to shoot him because he had come from Thailand; a blindfold was put over his eyes and he was driven away. In the days that followed, relatives received no direct word. Rungarun was initially told that her brother had been killed, and for two weeks she cried and feared that his body would be among the dead. She recognized him only when a photograph of released Thai workers appeared online: she could see only part of his face, but knew his eyes and expression. A video then showed the way he walked.
03
News arrived through his sister
Withoon later told his sister that he had been held in underground tunnels. She said he had not been tortured and appeared physically well when they spoke. Before his release, their family feared he might be killed; their father continued to believe he was alive. After Thai officials confirmed the release, his sister spoke with him by video call.
04
Freed on November 24
Withoon was among ten Thai workers released on November 24, 2023. A Thai consul called his sister to say he was free and safe; through her, he asked: “Tell mother I’m coming back.” The family still awaited his medical checks and travel arrangements before he returned home.
05
A family’s first conversation
Rungarun spoke with Withoon by video call after officials confirmed his release and saw him smile. She said he asked her to tell their mother he was alive and coming home. Their father had continued to hope; their parents first asked whether it was really their son. A farm clerk drove four hours to the hospital so she could see him on the call.