eHalal Palestine
🇹🇭 Thais Held Captive in Gaza Increases to 22 as Prime Minister Urges Immediate Return Home
In a renewed call to action, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is urging all Thai citizens working in Israel to return home after three more of their compatriots were taken hostage by Hamas militants. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Sunday night that the number of Thai hostages in Gaza has increased from 19 to 22. However, the figures for casualties remain unchanged, with 32 individuals reported as deceased and 19 as injured.
Srettha, speaking to reporters as he was about to depart for Laos from Udon Thani, confirmed the latest abductions and expressed concern for the well-being of several other Thai nationals whose whereabouts remain unknown.
The escalating conflict in the region, with Israel launching ground operations into the Gaza Strip, has made navigating Israel increasingly hazardous. This development prompted the Prime Minister to emphasize the urgency for Thai nationals still in Israel to take immediate steps to return home.
Srettha noted that attempting to rescue Thai workers in areas near the war zone has become riskier, further underscoring the need for a prompt return.
The Thai government has redoubled its efforts to secure the release of the hostages, with ongoing negotiations led by the leader of Thailand’s Shi’ite Muslim branch in Malaysia. Prime Minister Srettha emphasized the primary objective: “Our most important goal is to free the hostages and have them repatriated as soon as possible.” He also stressed the importance of utilizing the right channels for negotiations to prevent any confusion in the process.
When asked about whether Thai workers were being specifically targeted by Hamas militants, Srettha discouraged such assumptions, stating, “We are not a special target of any group but are war victims. Moreover, there are more Thais than other nationals working in Israel, so we are affected more.” The Prime Minister also acknowledged the international community’s support in these efforts, highlighting the cooperation of other nations in the mission to secure the release of the hostages in Palestine and ensure their safe return to Thailand.