Thailand Celebrates Release of Two More Hostages held by Hamas in Thailand

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara expressed her joy at the release of two additional Thai hostages by Hamas in Gaza. The hostages were released under a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas.

Parnpree, who is also a deputy prime minister, shared on social media platform X, “Happy to personally welcome 2 additional Thai hostages just released and arrived at the hospital in Tel Aviv.”

She added, “A totally warm feeling to see how the former 17 were lining up to welcome and give moral support to the two newcomers.”

Nineteen Thai hostages have been released so far, while 13 remain in captivity. The foreign ministry reports that 39 Thai nationals were killed in the October 7 attack by Hamas.

A Thai Muslim group that had direct communication with Hamas claimed that their efforts were instrumental in ensuring that Thai hostages were among the first to be released. A spokesperson from the Thai foreign ministry stated that multiple actors were consulted in the negotiations.

Prior to the Israel-Hamas conflict, approximately 30,000 Thai laborers worked in Israel’s agriculture sector, making it one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country. The government has repatriated nearly 9,000 of these workers.

The Thai citizens who have been released are expected to return home this week as Parnpree visits Israel.

(Reporting by Orathai Sriring, Panarat Thepgumpanat and Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Tom Hogue, Martin Petty)