The first group of 17 Thai hostages, released from Gaza by Hamas in last few days, are due back in Thailand this afternoon.
The group will not, however, include the two Thai hostages who were released by Hamas late Tuesday night.
So far, 19 of the 32 Thai nationals held captive by Hamas since the militant Palestinian group launched its cross-border attack on Israel on October 7th, leading to retaliation by the Israel defence forces, have been released.
The Israeli government has promised to secure the release of the 13 Thai nationals still held by Hamas, according to Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara after discussions with Israel’s president and foreign minister.
A foreign news agency has quoted the Israeli Defence Forces as saying Hamas handed over a sixth group of 14 hostages, including 10 Israelis and four Thais, to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Wednesday night. No details are currently available about the Thai nationals.
The wife of Pattanayuth Tornsokree, one of the two hostages freed Tuesday night, has spoken publically for the first time in about two months via video call. She told the media that she had been waiting for his safe return, adding that she does not want him to go back to work in Israel again.
