Some of the Thai nationals who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza have returned home. As fighting restarts, two of them spoke with NHK about their nearly 50 days in captivity.

Nutthawaree Munkan and her husband Bunthom Phankhong were reunited with family in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen. On Friday, they all sat down to enjoy local food.

Nutthawaree recalled life as a hostage, saying, "I meditated whole day and night. It is the only thing that could help me, just pray and meditate."

The couple spent about four years working on a farm in southern Israel. Then on the morning of October 7, they heard gunfire. They tried to take shelter, but were taken by militants to separate locations in Gaza.

Bunthom says, "We were held in a room that seemed to be in a regular house. The militants didn't allow us to go out. They kept the door closed and delivered food and water from outside."

The couple say meals were provided only once a day. They say the militants didn't hurt them. But they say all the Thai captives were under great stress and needed to comfort each other to survive in Gaza.

The two were released by Hamas last week, along with other hostages. The Thai government believes nine more of its citizens are still being held in Gaza.