An Israeli mom and her young daughter formed a close bond with a Thai woman while all three were held captive by Hamas for almost two months – and recently reunited in an emotional video call.
“I love you and I told you while we were there that we are family,” Daniella Aloni, 45, told Nutthawaree “Yo” Munkan in Hebrew during the five-minute conversation on Wednesday, according to a video shared by the Israel Foreign Ministry.
Munkan – an agricultural worker who was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 and held captive alongside Aloni and her daughter – replied in Thai from a room at the hospital, and was translated by Daniel Porat, Israeli psychologist who treated the freed Thai hostages.
“She says that you are also beautiful and Emilia is beautiful. She misses you a lot,” Porat relayed to Aloni and five-year-old Emilia.
At the beginning of the video, Emilia could be heard counting to 10 in Thai while Munkan smiled and counted along on her fingers.
Daniella Aloni and Nutthawaree “Yo” Munkan (pictured) reunited on a video call Wednesday. Israel Foreign Ministry via APA few minutes later, Emilia sang what sounded like a Thai song.
“Yo wishes to thank you very much,” Porat told Aloni on the Thai woman’s behalf.
“Tell her from me that she looks great and her face looks great,” Aloni replied.
Munkan became close with Aloni and her daughter while all three were held captive by Hamas. Israel Foreign Ministry via AP“Both of us give [Yo] a very big hug.”
At the end of the call, Munkan blew kisses to the phone screen while her partner, who was also held hostage and released this week, looked on.
The couple was both holding small Israeli flags.
Munkan waves out the window of a bus after being released last week. AFP via Getty Images“At the first opportunity, we will come to Thailand. What joy to see her like this,” Aloni gushed.
It was not clear where Aloni and Emilia were calling from, as they had already been released from the hospital after being freed on Nov. 24 as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
The mother and daughter were visiting with Aloni’s sister’s family at Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas terrorists stormed the community and killed or kidnapped about a quarter of its 400 residents.
Danielle Aloni and her daughter, Emilia, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. AP
Munkan and her partner pictured with their daughter after they were released last week. REUTERSMunken, 35, reportedly came to Israel to find work, and was employed on a farm Mivtachim when she met her partner Bunthom Phankong.
Both were also kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 and spent nearly two months as hostages in the Gaza Strip.
They were also released on Friday, though it is unclear if Munken and the Alonis spent the entire six-week ordeal together.
With Post wires
