Hamas had initially planned to transfer a group of 13 Israeli hostages to neighboring Egypt in exchange for 39 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
As for the twelve Thai hostages, they have been freed by Hamas, as confirmed by Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. According to him, embassy officials are on their way to receive the liberated hostages. Thavisin stated, “It has been confirmed by the Security Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that 12 Thai hostages have already been released. Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour. Their names and details should be known soon.”
Amid a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas had initially planned to transfer a group of 13 Israeli hostages to neighboring Egypt in exchange for 39 Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli jails. With the release of the 12 Thai nationals, a total of 25 people will emerge from captivity after nearly two months.
As per reports, the hostages have been transferred to the Red Cross and are currently en route to the Rafah border, which is Gaza’s border with Egypt.
Some Israeli hostages have been transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross for repatriation to Israel, as reported by the news agency AFP, citing two sources close to Hamas.
Providing insight into the situation, one source remarked, “Approximately thirty minutes ago, the prisoners were handed over to the Red Cross, who will facilitate their transfer to the Egyptians and Israelis slated to receive them,” as highlighted in the AFP report. The other source also corroborated the handover.