Thread: PM says no positive signs yet of release of Thai hostages held by Hamas

Talks between Thailand’s allies in the Middle East and Hamas over the release of Thai hostages are still under way, but there are no positive signs yet of whether or when they will be released, said Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin today (Monday).


He said that the government is trying all means possible to secure their safe return.


He disclosed that one more Thai is reported to have been killed in Israel, bringing the Thai death toll to 29, and one more Thai is reported to be being held hostage, adding that the situation in Israel remains tense and critical.


The prime minister said that six Thais, who were reported to have flown out of Israel, have encountered some problems, rendering it impossible for them to leave and they cannot be contacted.


Meanwhile, the Thai embassy in Tal Aviv said that 244 Thais have chartered an El Al flight, which left Israel at 6.20am today and is due to arrive at Suvarnabhumi international airport at about 7pm this evening.


Among the passengers on this flight are 30 students from Princess of Naradhiwas University. and three from Rajabhat Sakhon Nakhon University.

PM says no positive signs yet of release of Thai hostages held by Hamas | Thai PBS World : The latest Thai news in English, News Headlines, World News and News Broadcasts in both Thai and English. We bring Thailand to the world

• Tighter security makes it harder to fly Thais out of Tel Aviv

Getting Thais out of Israel is becoming more difficult, after the Israeli government tightened up security in the country and at its airports, admitted a top Thai Airways International (THAI) executive.

THAI chief executive officer Chai Eamsiri said yesterday (Wednesday) that two airlines, without mentioning their names, are unable to fly to Tel Aviv due to the increased security adding, however, that THAI does not have problem repatriating Thais, but is having to adjust its plans by flying to other airports in United Arab Emirates or Jordan to pick up them up, instead of at the airport in Tel Aviv.

Thai Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Israel have been trying to solve this problem, he assured.

A Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Airbus 340- 500 left Bangkok Wednesday night to pick up 140 Thais in the United Arab Emirates. The flight, the 4th by the RTAF, is due back in Bangkok today (Thursday).

• Thai negotiations with Hamas to release hostages ‘going well’

Negotiations for the release of Thais being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas started on Friday morning at the militant group’s offices in Tehran, said Syed Sulaiman Husaini, leader of the Shia Muslim branch in Thailand.

Husaini said the Thai negotiation team was appointed by Parliament President Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and led by former Narathiwat MP Areepen Uttarasin and Lerpong Syed, Husaini’s brother.

“Although details will not be disclosed until negotiations are conclusion, a source reported that the talks are going well,” Husaini said.

Parliament president Wan Noor is also negotiating with parties on all sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict to help Thai workers being held hostage, said parliament spokesman Kampee Distakorn.

However, Wan Noor’s scheduled visit to Saudi Arabia on November 3 has been postponed after the Saudi government said it is not ready to welcome guests amid the ongoing war.

Thai negotiations with Hamas to release hostages ‘going well’

Separately, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Friday refuted reports by Israeli authorities that 54 Thais are being held captive by Hamas, saying the number of Thai hostages remains at 18.

According to the Thai Foreign Ministry’s latest update, 33 Thais were killed and 18 injured in the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Bangkok Post - Recent negotiations with Iran have gone smoothly, with the Palestinian militant group Hamas poised to release all Thai hostages immediately, according to Saiyid Sulaiman Husaini, leader of an association of Shia Muslims in Thailand. https://bit.ly/3sceZOE - https://twitter.com/BangkokPostNews/...43899707503076