Israel sends life-saving rescue team to Thailand following devastating earthquake

Israel has dispatched a 22-member search and rescue team to Thailand to assist in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake that struck the Southeast Asian nation. The mission was authorized by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and coordinated with the Israeli Foreign Ministry. The Israeli delegation, led by Colonel (res.) Yossi Pinto of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is tasked with supporting both engineering and population-based rescue operations. Their objective is clear: to continue the search and rescue efforts until every trapped individual is safely recovered.

The earthquake, which has claimed the lives of at least 1,600 people in Thailand and neighboring Myanmar, has left thousands more injured. While the number of missing people remains uncertain, the Israeli team is dedicated to offering support in the complex operations. In addition to the official delegation, the Israeli non-governmental organization (NGO) Smartaid has been providing logistical support, coordinating the delivery of essential supplies to the capital, Bangkok. Smartaid’s efforts are focused on setting up a warehouse to distribute aid to various locations in the coming days.

Shachar Zahavi, the Founding Director of Smartaid, emphasized the urgency of their mission, citing the critical importance of arriving within the first few hours after such disasters. "Those first hours are everything; when fear takes over, people need to know we are there for them," Zahavi stated, underscoring the life-or-death nature of their work.

Israel and Thailand share close ties, with many Thai nationals working in Israel, and Israel being a popular destination for Thai tourists. This mutual relationship has strengthened Israel’s resolve to provide assistance. The Jewish state has a long history of dispatching search and rescue teams to global disaster zones. In 2023, the IDF sent a large contingent to Turkey following a devastating earthquake, and in 2021, Israel provided aid to Florida after the Champlain Towers South collapse.

Through these efforts, Israel continues to demonstrate its commitment to international humanitarian aid, providing vital assistance to countries in need, regardless of their level of development.