Oct 10 (Reuters) - When 26-year-old Natthaporn Onkaew headed for Israel two years ago to join thousands of fellow Thai migrants and take a job as a farm worker, his father warned him not to go. Now his words have come hauntingly true: Natthaporn is among 11 Thais and scores of other hostages taken by Hamas militants in their unprecedented assault on Israel at the weekend. He is one of 30,000 Thais working in Israel, mainly in the agricultural sector. Among numerous nations with citizens caught up in the conflagration, 18 Thais have also been killed and nine injured. Thailand and the Philippines are among the largest sources of migrant workers for Israel, the Filipinos mainly in healthcare.

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Persons: Natthaporn, Onkaew, Thawatchai Onkaew, Thongkoon Onkaew, I'm, Thais, Napat Wesshasartar, Thomas Suen, Chayut, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, SAENG, Baan, Philippines