Many of the people who were caught up in the surprise attacks by Hamas in Israel are foreign nationals. Among them are 15 Thai citizens who have returned home after evacuating from the country.

A plane carrying the evacuees touched down at Suvarnabhumi airport near Bangkok on Thursday. They are the first group of Thais to return since the fighting broke out.

The exhausted returnees were warmly welcomed by their families and officials. Some of them were injured during the assault. One of them, who was shot in the knee, shared the horror of his experience saying there were a series of gunshots as they fled with the militants chasing them. He said a bullet passed through a car under which he was trying to hide.

Thai government officials on Thursday announced that one more Thai national was confirmed dead, bringing the death toll to 21. They say 14 Thais were injured, and that 16 others were taken captive by Hamas.

Thailand is a major source of foreign workers for Israel with about 30,000 Thais employed in agriculture and other industries. Officials say about 6,000 Thai citizens have indicated that they want to leave the country and that the Thai Air Force is preparing to repatriate them.