BANGKOK: Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara welcomed on Wednesday the release of two additional Thai hostages who had been held by Hamas in Gaza, the latest release under a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas.
Parnpree, who also serves as the deputy prime minister, shared the news on the social media platform X, stating, “Happy to personally welcome 2 additional Thai hostages just released and arrived at the hospital in Tel Aviv.”
He further described the heartwarming scene of the former 17 hostages lining up to welcome and offer moral support to the newly released individuals. Nineteen Thai hostages have been released thus far, while the foreign ministry reports that 13 more are still in captivity. The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the tragic loss of 39 Thai nationals.
A Thai Muslim group that engaged directly with Hamas claimed on Monday that its efforts played a crucial role in ensuring that Thai hostages were among the first to be released. The Thai foreign ministry spokesperson mentioned that consultations involved multiple actors.
Before the Israel-Hamas conflict, about 30,000 Thai labourers worked in Israel’s agriculture sector, forming one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country. The government has repatriated nearly 9,000, and the remaining Thai citizens released are expected to return home this week during Parnpree’s visit to Israel.
