1-11-2023 (BANGKOK) Hamas representatives have given their word to Thai negotiators that the Thai hostages currently held in the midst of the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip will be set free once Israel concludes its military campaign, according to a statement from a Thai Muslim leader.
Saiyid Sulaiman Husaini, the leader of an association of Shia Muslims in Thailand, disclosed on Tuesday that this commitment was established during negotiations between delegates appointed by Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and Hamas representatives. These talks took place at the office of an adviser to the president of Iran.
The negotiation team consisted of Areepen Utarasin, Lerpong Sayed, and Sayyid Mumin Sakkitticha.
Areepen, an adviser to the parliament president, subsequently verified the discussions, which he mentioned occurred in Tehran last week on Thursday.
As per Saiyid Sulaiman, Hamas has agreed to release the Thai hostages held in the Gaza Strip once Israel halts its offensive or agrees to a ceasefire. Until such time, it remains unsafe for the hostages to leave Gaza.
Hamas has confirmed that they are holding 19 Thai hostages, all of whom are reported to be in good health and safe. However, they have not yet confirmed the identities of the three additional Thais reportedly taken captive, according to Saiyid Sulaiman.
Saiyid Sulaiman explained that the only possible evacuation route would be through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, located in the southernmost part of the Gaza Strip. He noted that the Thai government may need to seek approval and assistance from Egypt to facilitate this evacuation.
Areepen, speaking at the parliament on Wednesday, confirmed the meeting with Hamas representatives that took place last Thursday. He relayed that the Hamas representatives assured them of the hostages’ well-being and stated that this would allow them to inform the international community about their living conditions with Hamas.
Hamas pledged to release the Thai hostages in the near future but did not specify a precise timeline. According to the Hamas representatives, announcing a schedule could potentially trigger an attack and create a misunderstanding that Hamas had harmed the hostages, which is why they refrained from providing specific timing.
Areepen explained that they chose to hold the negotiations in Tehran due to Iran’s support of Hamas and its influence over the organization. He added that their delegation was the first to have official talks with Hamas since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7.
On Wednesday, government spokesman Chai Wacharonke announced that the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv had advised Thais wishing to be evacuated to assemble at the Intercontinental Tel Aviv Hotel by 5 pm on Wednesday for the last government-chartered flight to Thailand. While evacuations would continue, the declining numbers no longer justified chartered flights, he stated.
The Thai embassy in Tel Aviv also announced on Tuesday that the remains of 11 more Thai individuals who lost their lives in the ongoing conflict were being repatriated on El Al flight LY083, scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 12:40 pm on Wednesday. This marks the third flight returning Thai victims of the Hamas-Israel war. To date, 32 Thai workers have been reported killed, with 22 taken hostage and 19 injured.
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