In a surprising turn of events, Hamas has released a group of 10 Thai nationals and one citizen from the Philippines who were being held in Gaza. This release comes as part of a separate agreement between Hamas and Qatar and Egypt, in addition to the truce between Israel and Hamas that saw the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. The Thai nationals, who were the largest group of foreigners taken captive, were not covered by the truce deal, prompting Qatar and Egypt to mediate a separate agreement with Hamas for their release.
According to Majed al-Ansari, a spokesperson for Qatar’s foreign ministry, the Thai nationals and Filipino citizen were among a total of 24 captives who were released. The Thai nationals are currently being escorted out of Gaza with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, confirmed the release of 12 nationals and stated that Thai embassy officials would be picking them up.
The group of released captives was brought to Rafah and then to the Karem Abu Salem crossing, also known as Kerem Shalom by Israel, located east of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. From there, they were transported to a processing point at the Hatzerim Air Force base and were scheduled to be taken to the Shamir Medical Centre, southeast of Tel Aviv.
While the gender and names of the Thai nationals have not been disclosed at this time, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to Qatar, Egypt, Israel, Iran, Malaysia, and the ICRC for their assistance in securing the release. Notably, Iran and Thailand maintain friendly relations, and members of Thailand’s Muslim minority reportedly made unofficial trips to Tehran to seek the captives’ freedom.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in the capture of an estimated 240 people, including at least 23 Thai workers. Tragically, an additional 32 Thai workers lost their lives in the attack in southern Israel. Prior to the attack, approximately 30,000 Thais were employed in Israel’s agricultural sector. Since then, more than 8,600 Thai workers have voluntarily returned to Thailand.
Qatar has played a crucial role in leading weeks of intense negotiations, working closely with the United States and Egypt, to secure the release of 50 civilian hostages from Gaza. This agreement also includes a brief truce and access to humanitarian aid. In a separate development, Hamas released 13 Israelis, including dual nationals, as part of the captive release deal. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear that this would not mark the end of the war, stating that Israel would continue its efforts to “eliminate” Hamas.
Benny Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, reiterated this sentiment at a solidarity rally for the families of captives in Tel Aviv, stating that the army would resume fighting after the humanitarian pause. Netanyahu emphasized that the return of the Israeli captives was one of the objectives of the war, and that Israel remains committed to achieving all of its aims.
As the situation in the region continues to unfold, the release of the Thai nationals and Filipino citizen offers a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The involvement of Qatar, Egypt, and other nations in securing their release highlights the complexities of the situation and the importance of international cooperation.
