Jitladda Tap-arsa

Dec 14, 2004 - Jitladda Tap-arsa, 19, a female agricultural worker from Udon Thani’s Nong Han district in northereastern Thailand, was killed by mortar shells fired at Ganei Tal in the Gush Katif settlement bloc from the Gaza Strip. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.

Mortar shells fired from the Gaza Strip struck the hothouses of Ganei Tal at about 18:00. Jitladda Tap-arsa was standing near the window, washing dishes when a shell exploded just outside. She was struck by fragments which entered through the window and was mortally injured. She was airlifted to the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva, but died of her wounds en route. Her brother-in-law, Yongyuth Sudjoi, was slightly injured along with another worker from Nepal.

Jitladda's husband, Narongsak Sudjoi, has been working in Israel, mostly in Gush Katif, for four and a half years. Four years ago he returned to Thailand to marry Jitladda, and she followed him to Israel about two years ago. She was the third Thai worker killed in the Gaza Strip this year.

Jitladda Tap-arsa will be buried in Thailand. Her mother Banyen Tap-arsa said that her daughter’s husband, Narongsak, and his younger brother, Yongyuth, would return to Thailand as well.