Earlier reports said around 12 Thais had been released. A source briefed on the negotiations said their release was unrelated to a truce deal with Israel, the first in the seven-week-old war, and followed a separate track of talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
The ministry thanked the governments of Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran and Malaysia, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, “as well as others involved in the immense efforts that led to this recent release”.