In a significant development, Thai nationals who were held hostage in Gaza have been freed, according to Thailand's Prime Minister. The hostages were captured by Hamas during the attack on Israel on October 7th. The release of the Thai hostages is separate from an agreement which will see 50 Israeli hostages being freed from Gaza during a temporary four-day pause in fighting.

Initially, Thai government officials announced that 12 people had been released, but a Qatari official later clarified that the number was 10. Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister, confirmed the release and stated that embassy officials were making arrangements to pick up the freed hostages within the next hour. He urged the public to stay updated for more information regarding the names and other details of the released individuals.

The Qatari government, which has acted as a mediator between Hamas and Israel during ceasefire negotiations, later released details about the Thai hostages on X. This positive development comes as part of a four-day pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas, during which groups of hostages, primarily Israeli women and children, are expected to be released in exchange for 150 Palestinians detained in Israel.

In a separate announcement, it was confirmed that the first group of Israeli hostages had arrived back in Israel, signaling progress in the ongoing negotiations. The Thai foreign ministry has revealed that the released citizens will be transferred to an Israeli hospital where they will receive intensive care for the next 48 hours.

One worried mother, Thongkoon Onkaew, shared her anxiety about her son, Natthaporn Onkaew, who was among the hostages. She had last spoken to him on the morning of October 7th, when he was planning to play football with friends. Expressing her hope for his safe release, she extended her gratitude to the authorities for their efforts in negotiating the release of Thai nationals.

The Thai community has been particularly affected by the October 7th attack, as around 30,000 Thai citizens are employed in the agriculture sector in Israel. Tragically, at least 30 Thai citizens were killed in the raids, further highlighting the magnitude of the situation.

Families of the hostages are now anxiously awaiting news about the fate of their loved ones and hoping for positive outcomes. As part of the agreement, Hamas has committed to releasing 50 hostages during the temporary ceasefire in Gaza, further promoting a glimmer of hope for resolution amidst the ongoing conflict.