JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Thai embassy in Tel Aviv has asked the Israeli government to relocate Thai nationals working in southern Israel near the Gaza border.

The request on Thursday came a day after a Thai worker, Narakorn Kittiyangkul, 36, was killed when a mortar fired from Gaza struck the hot house that he was working in. He was the third civilian killed in Israel since the start of the Israeli operation in Gaza on July 8. His body will be returned to Thailand.

The request was announced by Foreign Ministry Information Department chief Sek Wannamethee in a statement to Thai reporters, the Bangkok Post reported. Sek reportedly said there are no plans to evacuate Thai workers from Israel.

Meanwhile, the Thai embassy has halted sending new Thai workers to areas within up to 24 miles from the Gaza border. Some 38 workers in the area also have requested assistance in moving to a safer area.

There are currently about 25,000 Thai workers in Israel, most working in factories or in agriculture. About 4,000 of the Thai workers are located in agricultural settlements in southern Israel, according to the Bangkok Post.

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