Thailand claims 20 nationals still being held captive by Hamas despite release of ten

Thailand’s foreign ministry stated Saturday that twenty Thai people are still being held by Hamas, despite the Palestinian militant group releasing ten.

In a statement, the ministry noted, “The Thai hostages released from Gaza in Friday’s exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinians in Israeli jails would be released after 48 hours in hospital”.

According to images supplied by the ministry, the released Thai hostages included one woman, who was clad in green jackets, and accompanied by medics at an Israeli medical centre.

Earlier reports stated that approximately 12 Thais had been released.

As per the source, their release was independent of the initial truce deal with Israel, the first in the seven-week-old war, and came after a separate track of talks with Hamas mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

The ministry applauded the governments of Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran, and Malaysia, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross, and all others involved in the immense efforts that resulted in this recent release.

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