TEL AVIV: Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara held back tears when he met fellow Thais released to Israel by Hamas after seven weeks of captivity and said on Wednesday (Nov 29) he hoped for freedom soon for the remaining 13 hostages.
Another two Thai workers were set free on Tuesday, bringing the total released to 23. With their arrival at Shamir Medical Center, the workers embraced one another. “We survived! We survived!” they cheered, and one was seen wiping away tears.
“We are not part of the conflict,” Parnpree said in a Reuters interview later on Wednesday after an emotional meeting with the workers on Tuesday. He said there were no conditions for their release.
Parnpree held talks with his counterparts in several Middle Eastern countries with Hamas contacts. He said they remain in contact with him and send him updates about the release of hostages even before the news breaks.
“I went around to speak to various countries who can connect with the Hamas group to explain that the Thai workers are innocent, they are not involved in politics, they are not part of anyone’s conflict, and they probably don’t even know how the situation came to be, who’s fighting with whom. They were there to earn a living,” he said in the interview.
Thailand says Palestinian Hamas gunmen from Gaza killed 39 Thais during an Oct 7 rampage into Israel where around 30,000 Thai labourers had been working in the agriculture sector, one of Israel’s largest migrant worker groups.
The Thai foreign ministry said three Thais were being treated for wounds in hospital. On Wednesday night, four additional Thai hostages were released. Of the 32 taken hostage, nine remain in captivity. Parnpree said he had pinned his hopes on winning their release soon.
Source: CNA
