THE government of Thailand welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza as it brought renewed hopes for the release of Thai hostages held by Hamas.
Nearly two dozen Thai hostages may soon be freed under a four-day truce agreed on by Israel and Hamas.
An unnamed source from Egypt revealed that Hamas is set to release 13 women and children on Friday in exchange for Palestinians being held in Israeli prisons.
The 23 Thai hostages will also be released in a deal brokered by Iran.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday expressed hope that the pause in the fighting would allow the Thai hostages to leave Gaza safely.
Thailand is one of Israel’s biggest sources of migrant labor, with around 30,000 Thais living in the Jewish state, mostly in the agricultural sector.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry thanked the governments of Qatar, Israel, the United States, and Egypt, and all other concerned parties for their efforts in securing the release of the hostages.
