Thread: Hamas Releases Only 10 Kidnapped Thai Citizens, 20 Still Being Held Captive

Ten Thai hostages kidnapped during Hamas’ attacks on Israel have been released as part of a four-day ceasefire agreement, Thailand’s foreign ministry announced on Saturday.


Hamas released 24 hostages on Friday, including 13 Israelis and one person from the Philippines. In exchange, 150 Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons, and humanitarian aid was sent to Gaza.

The 10 Thai hostages crossed into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing on Friday evening and were taken to Hatzerim air base for processing before being transferred to the Shamir Medical Center in Israel.


Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Saturday that the group would remain in the hospital for at least 48 hours, with embassy officials making arrangements for their return to Thailand and their families as soon as possible.


Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin had previously announced on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) that 12 Thai nationals had been freed. However, the foreign ministry confirmed on Saturday that the number was 10, with 20 still in captivity.


Thailand expressed gratitude to the governments of Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran, and Malaysia for their assistance in negotiating the release of the 10 hostages. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously reported 26 Thai hostages in Hamas captivity on Nov. 21, but it was later clarified that four of the hostages had been released on Friday.


“We sincerely hope that the remaining hostages will be treated humanely and released safely as soon as possible,” the ministry stated.


The Thai workers were kidnapped from agricultural areas in southern Israel after Hamas breached a fence separating Gaza from Israel. Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara had visited Qatar and Egypt and met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian to seek the release of the Thai nationals, who were the largest group of foreigners abducted by Palestinian militant groups.


Before the war, around 30,000 Thais worked in Israel, mostly as farm laborers. Since the fighting began, about a third have returned home, while the rest have chosen to stay in Israel. At least 32 Thai nationals have died, and 19 have been injured.


Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also confirmed on Saturday the release of Filipino national Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco, who is now in the custody of the Philippine Embassy in Israel.


“We remain concerned about the whereabouts of our other national, Ms. Noralyn Babadilla, and we are sparing no effort to locate and secure her if she is indeed found to be one of the hostages,” Marcos said in a statement.

The four-day truce between Israel and Hamas is the first break in the fighting, providing an opportunity to deliver crucial humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of Gaza’s 2.3 million people who have been displaced by Israel’s intense bombardment of the area.


According to the Associated Press, more than 13,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its offensive against Hamas, as reported by the Health Ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza.


Both sides have indicated that hostilities will resume after the ceasefire ends. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to eliminate Hamas and end its 16-year rule of the strip.

Hamas Releases Only 10 Kidnapped Thai Citizens, 20 Still Being Held Captive

Great news for the Thai government and for Thailand. I hope all the Thai hostages are released soon.

Hamas has released four more Thai hostages

A convoy of cars carrying Israeli and Thai hostages who were released from captivity in Gaza by Hamas was seen moving along a road leading into Israel from the southern border in the early hours of Sunday.

Thirteen Israeli and four Thai nationals made up the batch that was released on the second day of the truce between Israel and the Islamist militant Hamas group. They were set to be reunited with their families as part of a crucial hostage deal, which briefly risked falling apart due to a dispute over aid supplies.

The short-lived row over aid that threatened the temporary truce to free captives was overcome with the mediation of Qatar and Egypt but it underscored the fragility of the agreement, through which a total of 50 Israeli hostages are to be exchanged for 150 Palestinian prisoners over four days.

Drip releasing, already going back on the agreement to try and extend the ceasefire to give more time for them to regroup and rearm, typical Jihadist tactic learned from the Prophet

Originally Posted by britanicus123

Drip releasing, already going back on the agreement to try and extend the ceasefire to give more time for them to regroup and rearm, typical Jihadist tactic learned from the Prophet

The Israelis have in the past sacrificed their own personnel when dealing with hostage situations. As the number of hostages dwindle the Israelis will be waiting with their fingers on the button. They will only be pushed so far..

Originally Posted by britanicus123

Drip releasing, already going back on the agreement to try and extend the ceasefire

What part of "50 hostages to be released over 4 days" don't you understand?

Abigail Edan, 4
Ofry Brodutch, 10
Yuval Brodutch, 8
Oria Brodutch, 4
Gal Goldstein Almog, 11
Tal Goldstein Almog, 9
Ela Elyakim, 8

yes, lets all give a big cheer for the islamic freedom fighters of hamas and their fearlessness, bravery and heroism.

hamas, human scum of the worst kind, too scared to fight man to man, and who even with the millions of dollars they received from iran and qatar, couldnt build one bomb shelter for their people as they sought refuge in the tunnels they built for themselves underneath the hospitals, schools and homes of the palestinian pawns they left exposed and were sacrificed.

heres hoping the israelis finish the job and fuck 'em over good and proper when bidens cease fire has run its course.

^Who on this page is cheering

Hamas has released three more Thai hostages

The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was back on track Sunday as the militants freed 17 more hostages, including 14 Israelis and the first American, in a third exchange under a four-day truce that the U.S. said it hoped would be extended. In turn, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners.

Most hostages were handed over directly to Israel, waving to a cheering crowd as they arrived at an air force base. Others left through Egypt. Israel’s army said one was airlifted to a hospital, and the director of Soroka Medical Center said Elma Avraham, 84, was in life-threatening condition as “a result of an extended period of time when an elderly woman was not taken care of as needed.”

The youngest hostage released was Abigail Edan, a 4-year-old girl and dual Israeli-American citizen whose parents were killed in the Hamas attack that started the war on Oct. 7. “What she endured was unthinkable,” Biden said of the first American freed under the truce. He did not know her condition and did not provide updates on other American hostages. Biden said his goal was to extend the cease-fire deal as long as possible.

In all, nine children ages 17 and younger were on the list, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. Three more Thai nationals were released. Separately, Hamas said it released a Russian hostage “in response to the efforts of Russian President Vladimir Putin.” The Russian-Israeli citizen was the first male hostage to be freed.

The Palestinian prisoners released were children and young men, ages 15-19, largely accused of public disorder, property damage and in some cases causing or threatening physical harm to Israeli officers by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. Many were scooped up from protests and confrontations with troops. In turn, many Palestinians view prisoners held by Israel, including those implicated in attacks, as heroes resisting occupation.

A fourth exchange is expected on Monday — the last day of the cease-fire during which a total of 50 hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed. Most are women and minors.

International mediators led by the U.S., Egypt and Qatar are trying to extend the cease-fire that began Friday.

“We can get all hostages back home. We have to keep pushing,” said two of Edan’s relatives, a great aunt and cousin, in a statement thanking mediators.

Hamas for the first time said it would seek to extend the deal by looking to release a larger number of hostages. Netanyahu issued a statement saying he had spoken to Biden and reiterated his offer to extend the cease-fire by an additional day for every 10 hostages Hamas releases. But he said Israel would resume its offensive “with all of our might” once the truce expires.

Ahead of the latest hostage release, Netanyahu donned body armor and visited the Gaza Strip, where he spoke with troops. “At the end of the day we will return every one,” he said of the hostages, adding that “we are continuing until the end, until victory. Nothing will stop us.” It was not clear where he went inside Gaza.

This is the first significant pause in seven weeks of war, marked by the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades. More than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed, roughly two thirds of them women and minors, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The war has claimed more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians killed in the initial attack.

In New York, hundreds of Jewish protesters and allies demanding a permanent cease-fire in Gaza shut down vehicle traffic on the Manhattan Bridge in both directions for several hours Sunday. A New York police spokesperson could not immediately provide an exact number of how many people were arrested.

Here we go again...a vicious circle. we need a winner here.

Names of the three have been released. In general, all three are in good health but one has some stomach pain.


Srettha Thavisin - ดีใจด้วยครับ !
เมื่อ วันที่ 26 พ.ย.66 เวลา 20:36 (เวลาท้องถิ่น) ตัวประกันไทย ได้เดินทางโดยรถยนต์ถึงด่าน Kerem Shalom check-point
จากการตรวจสอบมีรายชื่อตัวประกันไทย 3 คน ดังนี้
รายชื่อคนไทยที่ได้รับการปล่อยตัว 3 คน
1. นายวิเชียร เต็มทอง
2. นายสุรินทร์
เกสูงเนิน
3. นายพรสวรรค์
ปินะกาโล

จากการตรวจร่างกายในเบื้องต้น
- ทุกคนสุขภาพดี ไม่มีใครต้องการการรักษาพยาบาลเร่งด่วน
- ทุกคนพูดคุยและเดินได้ปกติ
- นาย วิเชียรฯ มีอาการเจ็บช่องท้องเวลาที่หายใจลึกๆ เนื่องจากต้องอยู่ในพื้นที่ที่มีอากาศหายใจลำบา ก
- ทุกคนดีใจที่ได้รับการปล่อยตัว โดยรวมสุขภาพจิตใจยังดี พูดคุยได้ปกติ

https://twitter.com/Thavisin/status/1728920530366214286

4 more Thai’s released

“According to the information provided by the Red Cross, 10 Israeli abductees and abductees and four abductees with Thai citizenship are on their way to Israel,” Daniel Hagari, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, tweeted a few minutes ago.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

have been admitted to a hospital in Israel for a health examination.

More of a debrief than a health check, I suspect.

Originally Posted by happynz

More of a debrief than a health check, I suspect.

And an injection against Stockholm Syndrome

Good to see more people released, it'd be great to continue longer, but maybe this kidnapped hostage release period is coming to an end?

Here's some footage:

What the Thai PM said about today's release. He wanted to thank everyone who helped get the last 4 released


Srettha Thavisin - ขอบคุณทุกภาคส่วนที่ได้ช่วยกันครับ เมื่อ วันที่ 30 พ.ย.66 เวลา 02:00 (เวลาท้องถิ่น) ตัวประกันไทย ได้เดินทางโดยรถยนต์ถึง Herzarim Airforce base

รายชื่อดังนี้
1.ไพบูลย์ รัตนิล
2.กง แซ่เล่า
3.จักรพันธ์ สีเคนา
4.เฉลิมชัย แสงแก้ว

https://twitter.com/Thavisin/status/1730022738876829852

• Hamas releases another four Thai hostages

Four Thai nationals held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Palestinian group Hamas were released on Wednesday (local time) and are being treated at Shamir Medical Centre Hospital (Assaf Harofeh) in Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today.

The ministry quoted the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv’s report as saying that the fifth batch of Thai hostages reached the hospital safely. They were named as Phaiboon Ratnin, Kong Saelao, Jakkaphan Sikhena and Chalermchai Sangkaew.

The four men will undergo medical check-ups as per protocol before being brought back home, said the ministry, adding that their relatives have already been notified.

The ministry estimates that nine more Thais are still being held hostage by the Hamas.

• Happiness and grief as first 17 hostages released by Hamas arrive in Thailand

Seventeen Thai workers taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 arrived safely back at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Thursday afternoon.

After stepping onto Thai soil, the group expressed gratitude to all parties involved in securing their release.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin asked about their well-being via a video call and said urgent efforts were being made to free the remaining nine Thais being held by Hamas.

Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Ankara escorted the repatriated Thais as they disembarked from EL AL flight LY081 at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Parnpree travelled to Israel last week to oversee the repatriation of the group, who were released on the first day of a ceasefire on November 24. The 17 freed hostages underwent a week of health checks and monitoring in Israel before boarding the flight home today.

After meeting with their families, the Thai workers took a video call with the prime minister. Srettha inquired about their well-being and they assured him they were in good spirits.

The prime minister also asked them about the nine Thais who are still being held captive in Gaza. The workers said they had not encountered the nine while being held captive so they had no information on their situation.

The group added that they had been treated adequately by their Hamas captors. Srettha expressed hope that everyone would return safely from the ordeal.

The repatriated workers expressed gratitude to the Thai public for their support and solidarity during their captivity. They also expressed grief for the 39 Thais killed by Hamas during the militant group’s October 7 attack and invited everyone to join in a moment of silence.

They then thanked Srettha, Parnpree, and all agencies who helped ensure their safe release.

Parnpree said a total of 23 Thai workers have now been released, confirming that efforts were ongoing to free the remaining nine being held by Hamas. Six workers released this week are expected to return to Thailand soon.

He also expressed gratitude to “international friends” who had provided assistance and shown great love for the Thai people.

Seventeen former Hamas Thai hostages arrive safely in Bangkok

Nice article

• ‘We haven’t slept a wink’: families welcome freed Thai hostages home

Pornsawan Pinakalo’s three great aunts would not have missed his return for the world. Kularb Pinakalo’s knees couldn’t quite get her up to the room in Bangkok airport where her nephew was meeting other family members for the first time since being taken hostage in Gaza. But after travelling for four hours by van to the Thai capital, the 63-year-old was ready and waiting for him to emerge in the arrivals hall, alongside 84-year-old Nangnoi Pattataysan and Noi Prakobkan, 82.

“I just want to give him a hug,” Kularb said. She was so overwhelmed that she could hardly think of what to say to him, she added.

Pornsawan was one of 17 Thai nationals who landed in Bangkok on Thursday after the foreign ministry and Thai Muslim groups worked to negotiate their release.

Wearing shirts with the Thai and Israel flags, the freed hostages stood beside officials and paid tribute to the 39 Thai nationals killed in the war. Before the attacks on 7 October, 30,000 Thais were working on Israeli farms. Thais accounted for the biggest group of foreign nationals killed or injured in the conflict.

“I would like to express my condolences to our Thai workers who died,” said the group’s representative, Uthai Saengnuan. “We are sorry for their loss. I would like to ask everyone to spend a one-minute silence.”

Initially, Pornsawan’s family, from Nakhon Ratchasima province, had believed he was among those killed. His parents provided DNA samples to the Thai authorities, fearing the worst, but there was no match. His mother went to temple and promised the monk that if her son could return safely, he would be ordained for 15 days. When the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv called to say he was still alive, his mother cried with joy.

Snip

A total of 23 Thai hostages have now been released in Gaza and nine are still being held.

Nattawaree Moolkan, the only woman among the hostages, cried as she thanked everyone for their support on Thursday.