Asia-Pacific envoys honor foreign workers killed in Oct 7 attacks

Ambassadors and representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered Sunday at Kibbutz Be’eri for a memorial honoring foreign workers who were killed in the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

Ambassadors and representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region gathered on Sunday at Kibbutz Be’eri for a memorial honoring the foreign workers who were killed in Hamas’s October 7 massacre.

The ceremony, hosted by embassies representing Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other Asia-Pacific nations, commemorated dozens of foreign nationals whose lives were cut short while living and working in Israel.

Many of the victims were caregivers, agricultural laborers, and students who had come seeking opportunity and became part of Israeli life.

A representative of Nepal’s embassy came in place of Ambassador Dhan Prasad Pandit, who had not returned to Israel yet, as he was involved in the repatriation of slain Nepalese hostage Bipin Joshi.

Joshi was killed in Hamas captivity. Previously released footage of him by the terrorists had shown him alive.

Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the hardest-hit Gaza border communities during the attack, was home to many of the victims.

Four Filipinos, two Sri Lankans, and one Australian were killed there. Moreover, two Thai workers were abducted and later killed in Gaza. The body of one Thai national, Sudthisak Rinthalak, has remained in Gaza for over two years.

During the memorial service, Thai Ambassador Boonyarit Vichienpuntu talked about the 28,000 Thai nationals currently living and working in Israel, most of them in agriculture.

“They were highly commended for their hard work, dedication, and kindness,” he said. “They helped cultivate this land and feed this nation. Gradually, they became an integral part of the Israeli economy and society.”

The ambassador paid tribute to the 42 Thai citizens murdered during the Hamas assault, including Sudthisak, who had worked in Be’eri.

“He will never be forgotten,” Boonyarit said. “We strongly call, once again, for the long-awaited release of his body and all other remaining victims.”

Speaking afterward to The Jerusalem Post, Boonyarit said that Thai officials were awaiting news regarding Sudthisak’s body, hoping that it would be retrieved and returned to his hometown. Boonyarit expressed confidence in the government and its ongoing efforts to bring the remains home.

The ceremony included remarks from Aviv Ezra, the deputy director-general for Asia-Pacific affairs at the Foreign Ministry, who said that the foreign workers’ deaths were also Israel’s loss. “We are better together. We are stronger together,” he said.

‘Remembering those who are no longer beside us by paying attention to those who are’

Vietnamese Ambassador Ly Duc Trung, serving as the dean of the Asia-Pacific ambassadors, called not only for remembrance but also for keeping the foreign workers’ living conditions in mind.

He said he had requested that the Israeli government address safety, shelter during conflict, and labor policies affecting foreign nationals.

“We believe that the best way to remember those who are no longer beside us is by paying due attention to those who still are,” Trung said.

Filipino Ambassador Aileen Mendiola spoke of four of her nation’s people who were murdered on October 7: Paul Vincent Castelvi and Grace Cabrera, both killed in Be’eri, Angelyn Aguirre, murdered in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, and Loreta Alacre, who was in the South at the time of the attacks.

In the crowd were Filipino caregivers who survived the massacre, as well as one who was released from captivity in the November 2023 deal. Additionally, parents of fallen Filipino soldiers killed in Israel’s fight to return the captives were also in attendance.

“Many of them showed extraordinary courage and devotion in protecting and saving their employers during those terrifying hours,” Mendiola told the attendees.

“Despite the terrifying danger, they continued to fight for their saba [grandfather in Hebrew] and savta [grandmother],” the envoy said.

“Their strength amid grief reminds us of the immense cost of the conflict, carried not only by nations, but by families, parents, spouses, and children whose lives are forever changed,” she added, calling for the return of Joshua Mollel, the Tanzanian agricultural student whose body is still held captive by Hamas, and all remaining hostages.

“One too many lives,” Mendiola stated.

Sri Lanka’s envoy spoke of the two slain Sri Lankan hostages, both murdered in Be’eri while working as caregivers. 49-year-old Anula Jayathilaka and 41-year-oldSujth Yatawara Bandara both had families back home they were working to support.

Sri Lanka Ambassador Nimal Bandara paid homage to his constituents, but chose to also mention what he said was Israel’s continued commitment to “paying dues, salaries, and compensation [to the surviving families] on time.”

“We cannot compensate for the lives sacrificed by paying money, but the government and the relevant agencies are paying attention to the families of those who lost their lives, who depended on them,” Bandara said.

He listed the nationalities of the 71 foreign workers murdered on October 7: 39 Thai, 11 Nepali, four Filipino, four Chinese, two Sri Lankan, two Eritrean, two British, one Cambodian, one Australian, one Tanzanian, one German, one Sudanese, one Canadian, and one British-Mexican dual citizen.

“We are gathered here today to respect their contribution to Israel’s society and the country and to respect their family members who contributed to protect this land and help the new society,” the ambassador said.

Diplomats, Israeli officials, ex-hostages, survivors, and bereaved families attended the ceremony, which featured interfaith prayers led by a Catholic priest and a Buddhist monk, candle-lighting rites, and tribute performances.

In a statement from Kibbutz Be’eri, community director Yiftach Zeliniker expressed deep sorrow for the foreign caregivers who died protecting residents that day, including Cabrera and Castelvi of the Philippines, and Jayathilaka and Yatawara of Sri Lanka.

“I am sorry that we could not protect your loved ones on that terrible day,” Zeliniker said. “Your loved ones protected and cared for our members, and we will be eternally grateful for that.”

He also thanked the foreign workers who remained in Be’eri. “Living and working with a community in trauma are immense challenges,” he said. “We are grateful to you for staying with us and caring for our beloved kibbutz members.”

The Asia-Pacific embassies and the Be’eri community said the commemoration was not only a remembrance of those lost but also a reaffirmation of the enduring bonds between Israel and the Asia-Pacific nations whose citizens have shared in its pain, continuing to help rebuild its future.