A Thai woman saved dozens of her country’s workers in danger due to the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas in a war zone.
According to Thai PBS and the Bangkok Post on the 19th, Vipawardee Bannachai (40), who ran a law office in Israel, helped Thai workers from a dangerous area escape with his Thai friend Napapon Soha-seon.
Vipawadi ran a law office with her ex-husband, an Israeli lawyer, for 15 years and handled legal issues for Thai workers in Israel. When Hamas’ attacks began, Thai workers asked Vipawardi for help through law offices and social media.
Vipawardi said, “We are all born once and die once. “I will do my best to help my Thai colleagues,” he pledged, and set off to rescue workers. Vipawardi and Nappapon drove together to the fighting area. The two entered the dangerous area, persuading the Israeli military, which did not allow entry.
Even in extremely dangerous situations, Vipawardi evacuated the workers. It also solved the problems of conflict with employers who did not want to send workers, and workers who had difficulty leaving the country because their passports and other documents were burned or lost.
As Vipawardi’s performance became known, Thai people praised him through social media, calling him a ‘hero’ and ‘angel’. Mr. Bunhom Budmon, who met his son again, said, “I am grateful that my son and other workers who were shot in the leg were able to return home safely. “It is right to call Vipawardi a hero,” he said.
While Vipawardi was saving Thai people, his mother, who was suffering from terminal cancer, passed away. Vippawadee, unable to attend his deathbed, headed to Thailand on the 17th to attend his funeral.
He said, “When my mother’s condition worsened, I wanted to go home and be with her,” and “but (my mother) said that she could not survive, so I should stay in Israel and help Thai people who need your help.”
Vipawardi plans to stay in Thailand until December and then return to Israel.
Vipawardi said, “I have no such thing as a magic talisman. “I just pray to God to open the way and protect me,” he said. “I hope that Thais working in Israel remain vigilant and safe.”
After the Hamas attack on the 7th, 30 Thai workers were killed and 17 were detained as Hamas hostages in Israel. There are about 30,000 Thais living in Israel, who mainly work on farms. Of these, approximately 5,000 were in the combat zone, causing significant casualties.
Hyewon Lee, Donga.com
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.