Summary of Press Briefing on the Situation in Israel

on Friday 13 October 2023 at 15.00 hrs.

at Press Conference Room, MFA and via MFA Facebook Live

1. Mrs. Kanchana Patarachoke, DG of Info. Dept. and MFA Spokesperson, held a press conference to provide updates on the situation in Israel, as reported by the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv (RTE), and outcomes of the Rapid Response Center (RRC) meeting this afternoon at 13.00 hrs.

2. Statistics regarding Thai nationals

2.1 Death toll: 24 (three more deaths)

2.2 Number of injuries: 16 (two more injured)

2.3 Number of abductions: 16 (unchanged)

2.4 Number of Thai nationals who have registered for voluntary repatriation: 7,058 (increased from yesterday) while 83 Thai nationals have indicated their intent to remain in Israel (decreased from yesterday).

3. Evacuation Plans

3.1 Today (14 Oct.), RTE facilitated the third repatriation of Thai nationals via Fly Dubai, which will transit in Dubai to transfer passengers to flight FZ 1837, arriving in Thailand tomorrow (15 Oct.) 07.25 hrs. at U-Tapao Airport. They will then board a bus to SC Park hotel in Bangkok to reunite with their families before returning to their hometowns.

3.2 Tomorrow (15 Oct.), RTE will facilitate the fourth repatriation of Thai nationals via Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) flight, departing Tel Aviv at 13.00 hrs. Israel local time, and arriving at Military Airport 2, Wing 6, on Monday (16 Oct.) at 04.40 hrs.

3.3. RTE continues to prepare additional flights to do our utmost to facilitate the evacuation of at least 400 Thai nationals per day, including via Israel flag carrier El Al, Royal Thai Air Force aircraft, Thai Air ways, and chartered flights with commercial airlines.

3.4 To facilitate these repatriation missions, RTE has opened a Safe Transit Center for Thai nationals at the David Intercontinental Tel Aviv hotel, which will be operational from tomorrow (15 Oct.) onwards with accommodation and food provided.

4. Tomorrow, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin (PM) will chair the RRC meeting at 16.00 hrs. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Friends from the media can join us after for a press opportunity with the PM.

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News Division

Department of Information