Freeing hostages top priority, says PM

Freeing hostages top priority, says PM
Hamas releases Thai staff, who arrive at Suvarnabhumi airports on November 30. Somchai Poomlard ( picture )

The government will continue to assist all remaining Thai captives taken by the Arab violent group Hamas in its wonder assault on Israel on October 7, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

On Tuesday, Mr. Srettha informed reporters that there is no good news to share just still because any additional prisoner releases may wait until the following ceasefire.

He refuted reports that the authorities intended to abandon the remaining captives to their own products.

Their actual amount cannot be determined, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, but eight or nine workers are thought to still be held captive.

Mr. Parnpree said it appeared that Israel and Qatar had some disputes, but this may not have an impact on the Thai victims because Hamas has already released the majority of them in response to another issue about how the Qatar-mediated discussions were going.

At 12.15 p.m. on Monday, El Al Airlines journey LY081 carried six freed victims, including Pattanayut Tonsokree, Owat Suriya, Paiboon Ratnil, Kong Saelao, Chakraphan Sikhena, and Chalermchai Saengkaew.

Mr. Kong, 26, has since made his way back to Ban Kiew Doi Luang, a neighborhood in Chiang Rai’s tambon Rim Khong.

Mr. Kong’s family Suntree Saelee expressed her joy at learning that her husband was still alive to reporters.

2,174 people who lived in Chiang Rai had left to work in Israel. 1 101 had arrived back in Thailand as of November 27. Since the fighting started, three residents of the state have perished, and Hamas has freed two victims, including Mr. Kong.

However, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the minister of labor, stated that the government is negotiating with different nations to hire Thai workers from Israel to function in their separate agricultural sectors.

Following the recent signing of a bilateral agreement to that impact, some Thai employees are anticipated to travel to South Korea to begin working there first in the following year.

Israel has even extended the contracts of those who entered into five-year agreements for an additional time and demanded that Thai workers continue to work it.

Mr. Phiphat stated that the government has already paid each of the earlier returnees 15, 000 ringgit in compensation and is getting ready to do so.

Following Tuesday, proposals for further compensation of 50,000 baht and a three-year debt suspension will be made to the cabinet.