Number of Thai hostages held by Hamas rises by three

A picture taken from Israel’s southern city of Sderot shows smoke rising during Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip on October 29, 2023, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

Three more Thai nationals than originally reported were abducted by Hamas militants on October 7th, raising the number of Thai hostages to 22, while the death toll remains 32 and 19 injured, according to the latest report from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry did not give any details about the three additional abductees.

During the weekend, House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha told the media that he had received a report from his advisor, who is currently in Tehran seeking Iranian help to secure the release of the hostages, that all Thai abductees are safe.

More Thais working in Israel are due to arrive today (Monday) on four flights. The first flight, a Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Airbus carrying 140, arrived at Don Mueang airport at about 2am. This was the last evacuation flight by the RTAF this month, but the RTAF said it is ready to resume evacuation flights once there is an instruction from the government.

Today’s second flight, by Lion Air, was scheduled to touch down at Don Mueang airport at 8.40am with 180 on board.

The next two flights, by Arkia and El Al, are due to arrive at Suvarnabhumi international airport, but their arrival times and the exact number of passengers they are carrying have not yet been officially confirmed.

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