Thailand among 18 countries appealing for release of Hamas hostages

The leaders of Thailand, the United States, Britain, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, and Spain all signed the appeal.

The 18 countries all have citizens held by Hamas six months after the group launched its October 7 assault on southern Israel and killed 1,200 people. Hamas is believed to still be holding 129 hostages out of the 253 it took on October 7.

"We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza now for over 200 days," a statement by the countries said. "We emphasise that the deal on the table to release the hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, that would facilitate a surge of additional necessary humanitarian assistance to be delivered throughout Gaza, and lead to the credible end of hostilities."

"Gazans would be able to return to their homes and their lands with preparations beforehand to ensure shelter and humanitarian provisions," it said.

Senior Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters that Hamas would not be influenced by the statement and said the United States needs to force Israel to end its aggression.

The hostage proposal put forward earlier this year calls for the release of sick, elderly and wounded hostages in Gaza in exchange for a six-week ceasefire that could be extended to allow for more humanitarian aid to be delivered into the enclave.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in March that it believed eight Thai workers were still being held by Hamas in the conflict zone.