TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – Despite rocket alerts and a rising death toll, the number of Thai workers in Israel is surging to 50,000. For many women from Thailand, it represents the last chance for a life free from poverty. The economic hardship outweighs the fear of the next attack.
New Recruitment Wave Post-Ceasefire
Nearly three years after the Hamas attack, which killed 39 Thai workers and took 31 hostage, the Thai workforce in Israel has not shrunk but is instead exploding.
Before the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack, there were approximately 30,000 employees; this number has now risen to around 50,000. They are employed in agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and service sectors.
A Family from Nonthaburi Counts the Costs
For A, a 43-year-year-old from Nonthaburi, politics isn’t the issue at hand. It’s about a monthly salary of 77,000 Baht, her 18-year-old daughter’s university education, and semester fees ranging from 40,000 to 50,000 Baht.
She has prepaid 150,000 Baht for her contract and fees. Her husband, from Phuket, helps, but the financial pressure remains immense. The contract is for five years and three months.
English and Hebrew as an Entry Ticket
The application process was managed through the Thai Ministry of Labour. A studied English and Hebrew, passed the exam, and outcompeted approximately 40 other applicants in the same program.
“Anyone who can greet the boss in English and Hebrew has better chances,” she said.
Her brother-in-law has already been working on an Israeli farm for eight years.
Single Mother from Nong Khai
Among the new arrivals is a 45-year-old woman with three children aged 24, 18, and two. She had attempted this before in 2023, but the program collapsed after the Hamas attack.
She made a new attempt in 2025, shortly before the age limit of 44 years would have definitively excluded her.
“Others always said I was too old. I was so afraid of not getting the job. In the end, it worked out.”
Four Dead in Rocket Attack in the North
The dangers are real. In November 2024, a Hezbollah rocket struck in the north, killing four Thai agricultural workers along with their Israeli employers. Of the 31 hostages, 28 were released alive, and three died in captivity.
In early 2026, a 34-year-old Thai agricultural worker was hit by shrapnel from Iranian cluster munitions and died. This was the first Thai victim in the recent conflict between Israel and Iran.
Masseuse from Mukdahan
A 33-year-old woman from Mukdahan has been living in Tel Aviv for over eight years. She initially came due to her marriage to an Israeli, stayed after their divorce, and built a new life with a Thai partner.
Her four-year-old daughter speaks fluent Hebrew and English and attends school with Israeli children. At home, the mother speaks Thai:
“I want her to know where she comes from.”
Rocket Alarm in the Middle of the Night
On the evening of October 7, 2023, she still thought the violence would be confined to the south. Then, warnings blared over Tel Aviv, and explosions shook the neighborhood.
“Our boss immediately said: Close up, go to the basement,” she recalled.
Today, mobile phone alerts at three or four in the morning are part of daily life. The Israeli security systems provide her with routine and confidence.
Ten Workdays for the Daughter
Her monthly earnings are around 10,000 Shekels, equivalent to approximately 111,445 Baht, not including tips. For Thai standards, this is a top salary.
“I have to work hard. But I keep fighting for my daughter and my future,” A said.
Her plan: when her contract ends, she will be 48 and wants to retire early.
Fear Yes, Return No
The calculation is simple and bitter. The economy in Thailand is unstable, and debts weigh heavily. In Israel, while the next rocket alert awaits, so does the next monthly salary.
“I’m not afraid of the situation. No matter where we are, we can die at any time anyway. I’d rather take the risk here than stay at home,” A said.
The Calculation Behind the Suitcases
Behind the numbers and conflict reports are thousands of individual decisions. It involves tuition fees, young children, retirement savings, and the question of what a person can endure. The equation remains the same for many Thais: the danger of war weighs less than the certainty of financial hardship. As long as this continues, suitcases will keep getting packed.