A dozen Thai nationals who were being held hostage in Gaza have been released, Thailand’s prime minister has confirmed.
Srettha Thavisin said officials were on their way to collect them, but did not release further details about their identities.
Hamas is thought to have captured 26 Thai citizens in the 7 October attack.
Their release is not part of a wider ceasefire deal which will see 50 Israeli hostages freed from Gaza.
A four-day pause in fighting negotiated by Qatar has been agreed, and hostages – expected to be Israeli women and children – will be released in return for 150 Palestinians detained in Israel.
On Tuesday afternoon a senior Israeli official was reported as saying Hamas could also unilaterally release the Thai nationals believed to be among the hostages.
Confirming the release of 12 people, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin wrote on X: “At the moment, the embassy officials are traveling to pick them up in one hour. It’s likely that the names and other details will be known. Please keep watching.”
Thai nationals were disproportionately impacted by the 7 October attack as around 30,000 have travelled to work in Israel, primarily in the agriculture sector.
At least 30 Thai citizens were killed in the raids.
Families are facing a nervous wait to find out if their loved ones are among those freed on Friday.
Thongkoon Onkaew, the mother of Natthaporn Onkaew, a 26-year-old Thai farmer, said the last time she spoke to her son was on the morning of 7 October, when he was planning to play football with friends.
She said: “I wish my son is one of the first being released. It has been a painful month with no good news.
“I wish my son and other Thai hostages are safe, I thank all the authorities for the effort negotiating the release of Thai nationals.”
Wanida Maarsa, the wife of Anucha Angkaew, 28, said: “I need to call the local representative to check the news. I am now bombarded with messages.
“If my husband is one of the 12, I would be so happy.”
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24 October
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30 minutes ago
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