Thai officials held talks with Hamas in Iran last week in an effort to secure the release of the 22 Thai people taken hostage during its attack on Israel.
Officials, who held a two-hour meeting with Hamas in Tehran on 26 October, were told that the Thai hostages would be released at “the right time”, and they were being looked after, according to Areepen Uttarasin, a lead negotiator.
Thousands of Thais work in Israel’s agricultural sector, and the Israeli government has said they make up the biggest group of foreign people killed or missing in the Hamas attacks.
A total of 1,400 people were killed and more than 230 taken hostage during the violence on 7 October. Among them were 32 Thais who were killed, 22 who were abducted and 19 injured, the Thai government has said. Four remain in hospital. The Israeli government has said it believes that more people – up to 54 – could be being held captive.
Areepen, who led the three-person team that went to Tehran, said he asked for the release of the Thai hostages and emphasised their innocence.
“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 said, adding that after the talks the Thai team – who are all Muslims – prayed with the Hamas representatives.
“They acknowledged our concerns because they know that Thailand has offered kindness and benefits to the Muslim community … They respect Thailand,” Areepan said.
Srettha Thavisin, the prime minister of Thailand, also spoke by phone with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, late on Wednesday. “He told me he would do his best to help the Thai hostages immediately,” Srettha said.
During the call Srettha expressed his condolences for those killed, injured or abducted since 7 October. Netanyahu’s office said after the call that he had assured Srettha that “Israel is making every effort to free all of the hostages”.
Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Thailand’s foreign minister, also held talks in Qatar and Egypt this week to try to secure the return of Thai hostages.
On Wednesday, Parnpree said he had met with the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, “to express my gratitude on behalf of the Thai people for his critical role and the role of Qatar in mediating the release of the hostages … particularly in this increasingly complex context of the current situation”.
Parnpree also met his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, in Qatar.
The Thai government has so far evacuated 7,282 people from Israel through 33 evacuation flights. Another flight is expected to arrive in Thailand on Friday.
Prior to the war, 30,000 Thai workers were employed in Israel, with about 5,000 working in areas close to the Gaza Strip. Many Thais move from poorer, rural areas of Thailand to work in agricultural jobs in Israel, where the wages are several times higher. Some are reluctant to leave, despite the dangers, as they have paid large fees to work abroad and are facing debt.
During his call with Netanyahu, Srettha also voiced concerns regarding the welfare of Thai nationals who remain in Israel, he said, and sought reassurances from the Israeli side.
Israel estimates that the number of Thai nationals taken hostage is higher than that given by the authorities in Bangkok. It has said that 54 Thai people were among the 220 hostages taken.
Srettha, the Thai prime minister, however, said it was possible the Israeli figure included a combination of confirmed deaths, abductions and missing people.
