Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin has confirmed the release of nationals who were being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas.
Thavisin said officials were on their way to receive the dozen freed on Friday, but did not release further details about their identities.
Hamas is believed to have captured 26 Thai citizens in the October 7 attack in the territory of Israel.
Their release is not part of a wider ceasefire deal which will see 50 Israeli hostages freed from Gaza.
A four-day pause in fighting negotiated by Qatar has been agreed, and hostages expected to be Israeli women and children – will be released in return for 150 Palestinians detained in Israel.
On Tuesday afternoon a senior Israeli official was reported as saying Hamas could also unilaterally release the Thai nationals believed to be among the hostages.
Confirming the release of 12 people, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin wrote on X: “At the moment, the embassy officials are traveling to pick them up in one hour. It’s likely that the names and other details will be known. Please keep watching.”
Thai nationals were disproportionately impacted by the 7 October attack as around 30,000 have travelled to work in Israel, primarily in the agriculture sector.
At least 30 Thai citizens were killed in the raids.
