24-11-2023 (BANGKOK) The Foreign Affairs Ministry has yet to confirm whether Thai nationals will be among the initial 50 hostages released by Hamas following a recent prisoner exchange agreement with Israel.
Ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke stated that as of now, the ministry has not been officially informed about the release of Thai hostages in Gaza. According to information from the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv, there is only one woman among the Thai hostages, dispelling rumors of her pregnancy.
“The Thai embassy in Tel Aviv is closely monitoring the situation concerning the Thai hostages,” Patarachoke affirmed. “We have also reached out to the woman’s family, and they have confirmed that she is not pregnant.”
During a press conference at the Iranian embassy in Bangkok, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Bagheri Kani of Iran addressed the Middle East situation. Kani, on a two-day visit to Thailand to bolster bilateral ties, concluded his visit on Thursday.
Responding to queries about the potential release of Thai hostages, Kani disclosed that Tehran has been in communication with its “friends” in Hamas since the conflict between the Palestinian group and Israel erupted on October 7.
“With regards to the issue of hostages, including Thai nationals, the response we received from the resistance movement is that as long as the war persists, there is no possibility of releasing prisoners of war,” Kani stated.
Pressed about the likelihood of Thai hostages being liberated, he explained that due to communication disruptions in the Gaza Strip, Iran cannot access information directly and would need to verify with Israel.
When questioned about Israel’s accusations against Iran’s involvement in the conflict, Kani asserted that Iran would continue supporting any movement that champions the rights of people worldwide, including Palestinians.
After over six weeks of conflict, Israel and Hamas recently declared a temporary ceasefire to facilitate the release of 50 hostages, primarily women and children. The exchange involves 150 Palestinian women and other detainees from Israeli jails. The hostages were taken from residences along the Israeli border, military installations, and a significant outdoor music festival, with a total of 240 individuals from 40 countries, including 26 Thais.
