Concerns mount over Thai hostages as fighting resumes
Smoke billows in Rafah following an Israeli air raid on the southern Gaza Strip as fighting resumed //AFP
Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara expressed concerns today that the resumption of fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza may impact the release of more Thai hostages.
Israel’s airstrikes on the Gaza Strip resumed last Friday, only minutes after a week-long truce expired.
“I hope that Hamas will release more Thais. I am, however, worried that, with the war erupting again, the travel of the released Thais from their places of detention could be affected by the fighting,” Parnpree said
Parnpree added that “the number of Thais still held hostage by Hamas that we have is eight or nine. This number could, however, change.”
To date, 23 Thai nationals, taken hostage during the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israel, have been released. The minister expressed hope that Hamas would release more Thais, because Thailand has nothing to do with their conflict.
