Thailand delegation holds direct talks with Hamas, asks them to release 'innocent' hostages

Officials from Thailand held direct talks with Hamas last week in Iran to express concern over 22 Thai hostages held by the terrorist group in Gaza. The head of a Thai delegation said that negotiators met Hamas officials in Tehran on October 26 where the latter promised the former that all the Thai nationals under Hamas’ captivity would be released at the “right time.” Areepen Uttarasin, the head of the three-person team appointed by the speaker of the Thai parliament, said that both sides held a two-hour-long meeting in Iran. “I asked them (Hamas) to release them because they are innocent,” Uttarasin said. “They assured me that they were taking good care of them, but they couldn’t tell me the release date… They were waiting for the right time,” he added. Uttarasin further noted that Hamas acknowledged Thailand’s concern because “they know that Thailand has offered kindness and benefits to the Muslim community… They respect Thailand.” On Tuesday, Thailand’s foreign minister began an urgent visit to Qatar and Egypt for talks over the fate of the Thai hostages. At least 32 Thai nationals have been killed since Hamas launched its attack against Israel on October 7. About 30,000 Thais were working in Israel, many in the agricultural sector, when Hamas launched its attack. “We are more like victims of the war. We have been more affected because there are more workers from Thailand in Israel than from other countries,” Thailand’s Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said.