Thai hostages set for release by Hamas as part of ceasefire

In a dramatic twist to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, five Thai hostages are set to be freed by Hamas today, as confirmed by Israeli officials. This surprising move, which stands outside the recent ceasefire deal, is anticipated alongside the release of three Israeli hostages.

Set to return home are two Israeli women, 29 year old Arbel Yehud, a civilian, and 20 year old Agam Berger, a military observer, along with 80 year old Gadi Moses. If everything goes as planned, this will mark the third hostage release tied to the current Gaza ceasefire agreement. In exchange for the Israeli trio, Israel is preparing to release 110 Palestinians from its prisons.

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While the names of the Thai hostages remain under wraps, reports suggest they are agricultural workers who were abducted from Israel.

Their liberation would be a unilateral show of goodwill by Hamas. Meanwhile, Thailand holds out hope for six more of its citizens still languishing in captivity.

These include Watchara Sriuan, Bannawat Seatho, Sathian Suwannakham, Nattapong Pinta, Pongsak Tanna, and Surasak Lamnau. Heartbreakingly, Thai government officials believe that two of their nationals, Sudthisak Rinthalak and Sonthaya Oakkharasri, have died.

The list of 110 Palestinian prisoners awaiting release remains undisclosed but is speculated to include at least 30 women and children, as well as life-term inmates.

This development is part of a wider exchange program that kicked off with the ceasefire on January 19. Already, seven Israeli women have been exchanged for over 290 Palestinian prisoners since the agreement’s inception.

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In yet another anticipated exchange, three Israeli men are slated for release on Saturday, according to Israeli sources.

The backdrop to these releases is Israel’s aggressive military campaign to dismantle Hamas and raze Palestine to the ground, triggered by the cross-border conflict on October 7, 2023.

This violent incursion led to the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry reports over 47,310 fatalities in the territory, predominantly civilians, amid Israel’s unrelenting ethnic cleansing offensive.

Thai hostages set for release by Hamas as part of ceasefire | News by Thaiger
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Bob Scott

Bob Scott is an experienced writer and editor with a passion for travel. Born and raised in Newcastle, England, he spent more than 10 years in Asia. He worked as a sports writer in the north of England and London before relocating to Asia. Now he resides in Bangkok, Thailand, where he is the Editor-in-Chief for The Thaiger English News. With a vast amount of experience from living and writing abroad, Bob Scott is an expert on all things related to Asian culture and lifestyle.

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