Thai PM Announces Release of Hostages Amid Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Talks

The Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin, confirmed on Friday that a portion of the 26 Thai nationals held hostage by Hamas has been released as part of the ongoing ceasefire discussions with Israel.

Thavisin took to the social platform X to share that some captives were freed and indicated that further details about their identities would be disclosed in the hours ahead.

A statement from the Egyptian government noted that twelve Thai and thirteen Israeli hostages had been released. Egyptian authorities were preparing to receive the freed individuals at the Rafah crossing, the gateway between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, to coordinate with Israeli authorities.

These individuals are among the 26 Thai nationals abducted by Hamas during the October 7 assault on Israel, an episode that left roughly 1,200 people dead, including 39 Thais. News of the releases comes as the conflict has continued to unfold across the region.

Earlier in November, Thai officials indicated that two or three Hamas cells had dispersed Thai nationals across multiple locations in Gaza, complicating efforts to locate and secure all captives.

Since the onset of the war between Israel and Hamas, Thailand has pursued multiple channels to secure releases. A high-level mission from Thai diplomacy traveled to Egypt and Qatar, and Thai government representatives held discussions with Hamas affiliates in Iran in pursuit of progress.

It is estimated that about 30,000 Thai citizens were in Israel at the time. Among them, around 5,000 were employed in Israel, with more than 10,000 moving toward Gaza during the Hamas assault. Others chose to remain inside Israeli territory despite the danger.

On this Friday, the first ceasefire between Israel and Hamas entered effect at 7:00 a.m. local time (5:00 GMT) following more than a month of hostilities, covering an exchange of 150 Palestinian prisoners in the initial phase.

The ceasefire is set to last four days, and the agreement could extend to ten days if Hamas agrees to additional releases. Humanitarian aid would be allowed to flow into the region as part of the expanded arrangement, providing relief to civilians on both sides.

They have reached Egypt

The first batch of 13 hostages seized during the October 7 attacks by Hamas, who had been held in Israeli territory, were released as part of the ceasefire and have now arrived in Egypt after crossing the Rafah border into the Sinai region.

News reports indicate that 49 days have passed since the abduction, during which the region has endured heavy casualties, including more than 14,800 deaths and some 6,100 children, as fighting intensified between Israeli forces and Hamas.

Earlier movements saw these hostages transferred under the oversight of international humanitarian organizations, with medical teams preparing to examine and treat them as needed before potential reunions with families in Egypt or other destinations. Ambulances transported some patients from Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip to Rafah for care and onward transfer.

Relatives continue to wait at hospitals across Israel as authorities work to verify medical conditions and arrange eventual reunions with loved ones. The situation remains tense, with families hoping for a safer path forward for all captives still in captivity.

Among the broader context, Palestinian militants had seized more than 240 individuals on October 7. By this Friday, only four hostages—primarily women—had been released in the most recent phase. The new deliveries are part of the broader ceasefire framework that initially included the exchange of 39 Palestinian prisoners, with the aim of releasing a total of 50 hostages in Gaza and freeing 150 Palestinian prisoners under a three-to-one ratio in this first exchange round. Prime Minister Netanyahu has warned that he will not fulfill his part of the agreement until those responsible for the initial abductions are removed from the scene.

A portion of the 13 hostages released on Friday joined a group that included women and children, with 12 individuals identified as Thai nationals. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Egyptian authorities highlighted Egypt’s role as a central mediator in this process, noting that the Rafah crossing remains the sole open route for humanitarian aid into Gaza at this time.