10 released Thai hostages being monitored in Israeli hospital
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday announced the names of 10 Thai nationals held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Palestinian group Hamas who were released on Friday under a ceasefire deal.
The ministry clarified that Hamas had released 10, not 12 Thai hostages as announced earlier.
The ministry said officials of the Royal Thai Embassy in Tel Aviv on Friday visited the released Thai hostages at Shamir Medical Centre Hospital (Assaf Harofeh) while they were treated by the medical team.
The released Thai hostages are:
1. Natthawaree Moonkan
2. Santi Boonphrom
3. Boonthom Phankhong
4. Mongkhol Phajuabboon
5. Withoon Phumee
6. Wichai Kalapat
7. Bancha Kongmanee
8. Buddee Saengboon
9. Uthai Thunsri
10. Uthai Sangnuan
The embassy said it had notified their relatives in Thailand of their release, and was monitoring the treatment of the released hostages at the hospital, where they are required to stay for 48 hours.
During their stay, the released hostages would be evaluated by Thai-speaking psychologists and social workers, the embassy said.
The ministry added that the 10 released Thai hostages included four who had never been confirmed by Israeli authorities as having been taken hostage. The ministry estimated that 20 more Thais were still being held in Gaza. Earlier reports had said that a total of 26 Thais had been confirmed by Israel as taken hostage by Hamas.
The ministry vowed to continue working for the release of the rest of the Thai hostages as soon as possible, while thanking related parties in supporting the negotiations with Hamas, including the governments of Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
