SPECIAL BRIEFING

On October 7th, Hamas terrorists attacked Israeli towns, kibbutzim and communities on the border with Gaza, resulting in 1,200 deaths, almost 5,000 injured, and almost 240 kidnapped. Of these numbers, 39 Thai nationals were killed, and 25 were taken hostage by Hamas into Gaza.

Last week, through separate negotiations, 17 of the hostages were released, with 8 still remaining in captivity. What was the process of releasing the initial hostages? What were their testimonies of being held in captivity? What is being done to release those still being held hostage? Why were there so many Thai nationals in Israel in the first place? And what is Israel doing to ensure the welfare of the Thai nationals that remain in Israel?

Join us on Thursday, December 14 as we hear Amb. Orna Sagiv, the Israeli Ambassador to Thailand, answer these questions and more. 

Ambassador Orna Sagiv is the ambassador of the State of Israel to the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Cambodia.

She has over 30 years of experience as a diplomat in Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previous roles have included Inspector General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2016-2021) and Director of Organizational Strategy Department in the Director General's Bureau (2013-2016).

Amb. Sagiv has also served as Consul General of Israel in Mumbai (2008-2013), Counsellor in the Southeast Asia Dept. (2006-2008), Deputy Chief of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Australia (2002-2006), Acting Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand (2003-2004), First Secretary for the Palestinian Affairs Dept. and the North East Asia Dept. (1999-2002), Spokesperson at the Embassy of Israel in China (1996-1999), and as a cadet in Taipei.

Amb. Sagiv holds a Master's in Diplomacy and Defense from Tel Aviv University and a Bachelor's in Political Studies and Criminology from Bar Ilan University.

She speaks Hebrew, English, French and a little Chinese.

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