A Thai mother is happy when she hears that her son is still alive.

Watsana Yojampa had been waiting by the phone for almost two months, wondering if she would get good news – or the worst possible message a mother could hear.

Shortly after the October 7 Hamas-led attack in the Gaza Strip, Ms. Watsana’s son, Anucha Angkaew, appeared in a photo circulating on social media showing him with three other men held at gunpoint, hands on their backs.

At 4am on Sunday, Ms Watsana received the call she had been waiting for. Her niece heard on X, the social media site, that Mr. Anucha, an avocado farmhand in Israel, had been released, and she called her aunt. Four hours later, Thai embassy officials confirmed the news to Ms Watsana.

“I am so happy, so elated, that no words can explain it,” Ms. Watsana said by phone. “They told me that my son is now under the care of a medical team at a hospital for a health check. I hope he is doing well and safe.”

Mr Anucha was one of four Thai hostages released by Hamas on Sunday as part of a swap with Israel. Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Sunday that the other three were Natthaphon Onkaew, Khomkrit Chombua and Manee Jirachat. (Their names were written in Thai and The New York Times transcribed them.)

Mr Srettha said on They asked to shower and contact their relatives, Mr Srettha said.

In addition, Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that Israeli authorities have increased by two the number of Thai citizens they say have been kidnapped. This means that 18 Thai citizens are still being held hostage.