In a statement on November 25, the Thai Foreign Ministry announced that the freed hostages would be repatriated after 48 hours in hospital. However, an estimated 20 Thai citizens are still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, according to the statement.
The Thai Foreign Ministry also said that four of the 10 Thais released on November 24 had not previously been confirmed by Israel to have been held by Hamas.
"We sincerely hope that the remaining hostages will be treated humanely and released safely as soon as possible," Reuters quoted the statement as saying.
Optimistic signals on the second day of hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel
Hamas' release of the Thais was unrelated to the four-day ceasefire between the group and Israel, a Reuters source said, adding that the move followed separate talks between Thailand and Hamas, brokered by Egypt and Qatar.
Meanwhile, The Times of Israel reported that Thailand had reached an agreement to rescue its citizens through Iran, a Hamas supporter.
Thai citizens released by Hamas on November 24
The Israeli government has so far confirmed that about 240 people, including Israeli and foreign citizens, were taken hostage by Hamas and taken to Gaza as hostages when the force attacked southern Israel on October 7. Thailand is the largest group of foreign hostages, according to The Times of Israel .
Hamas released a total of 24 hostages (including 10 Thai nationals) on November 24, the first day of a ceasefire agreement with Israel. Under the agreement, at least 50 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza will be exchanged for about 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel within four days.
First hostages released as Gaza ceasefire ends
In a statement on November 25, the Thai Foreign Ministry thanked the governments of Egypt, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as other countries involved in the “tremendous efforts” that led to the hostages’ rescue.
About 30,000 Thai citizens work in Israel, forming one of the largest groups of migrant workers, with many working in agriculture.
Also on November 25, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said he was “overjoyed” to confirm that a Philippine citizen, Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco, was among the group of hostages released by Hamas on November 24.
President Marcos said Pacheco has been received by officials at the Philippine Embassy in Israel. The leader praised the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs and thanked Qatar for "their invaluable assistance in securing Jimmy's release."
Mr Marcos said Manila remained concerned about another citizen missing in Israel, Noralyn Babadilla, and was making every effort to locate and protect her if she was confirmed to be one of the hostages. "We pray that the ceasefire continues to be successful and that all hostages will be released," he said.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry on November 25 confirmed the release of 10 Thai citizens and one Filipino citizen by Hamas a day earlier, saying they were expected to stay overnight at a hospital in Israel while health authorities completed their health checks, according to The Times of Israel .
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