Hostage Release In Gaza As Humanitarian Truce Takes Effect; 12 Thai Workers Released
Thailand”s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced on social media that 12 Thai workers held captive in Gaza have been released by the Hamas. This development comes as part of a humanitarian truce brokered through mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar.
The Head of Egypt”s State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, issued a statement confirming the success of their mediation, revealing that not only were the 12 Thai hostages released but also 13 Israelis, including women and children, who were also held by Hamas.
“Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour. Their names and details will be revealed son. Please stay tuned,” Srettha Thavisin wrote on X.
ได้รับการยืนยันจากฝ่ายความมั่นคงและกระทรวงต่างประเทศว่า มีตัวประกันชาวไทย 12 คนได้ถูกปล่อยตัวออกมาแล้วขณะนี้เจ้าหน้าที่สถานทูตกำลังไปรับตัวอีก 1 ชั่วโมงน่าจะทราบชื่อและรายละเอียดต่างๆครับกรุณาคอยติดตาม
— Srettha Thavisin (@Thavisin) November 24, 2023
AFP reported that according to Hamas sources, a handover of captives to the Red Cross for return to Israel via Egypt have been done.
“They were handed over to the Egyptian side,” the source said.
“This is the first group under the agreement,” a source in the military wing of Hamas also confirmed the handover.
The Thai workers in question were among the victims of the October 7 attack, during which more than 240 people were kidnapped by the Gaza-based Hamas. In total, 23 Thai workers were held captive.
Thailand”s Foreign Ministry provided additional context said that approximately 30,000 Thai citizens were employed in Israel”s agricultural sector, where they received a minimum wage of 5,300 shekels a month ($2,000). This wage is significantly higher than what they earn in their home country, providing a crucial source of income for many Thai workers.
However, the conflict took a toll, with 39 Thai workers among the 1,405 casualties reported during the October 7 attack. Since then, more than 8,600 Thai workers have chosen to voluntarily repatriate.
Apart from Thailand, different nationalities including Argentina, Britain, Chile, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and United States were held captive by Hamas on October 7.
