Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and leaders from 17 countries have come together to request the immediate release of all hostages, including 8 Thai citizens, who are still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
In a statement on Thursday, the prime minister expressed that he sees the release of the remaining hostages as an urgent humanitarian matter and will continue to do his best for the safe return of the Thai hostages.
Another 23 Thais, who worked on farms in Israel, have already been set free.
An AFP report on February 12 stated that around 101 hostages are believed to still be alive. This includes 91 Israelis or dual nationals, eight Thais, one Nepali, and one French-Mexican. Up to this point, 112 out of the initial group of 253 hostages have been released.
Hamas militants are also holding the bodies of 29 people, including at least 18 who died in the October 7 attacks last year and whose bodies were taken to Gaza. The attacks by Hamas on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to AFP and based on official figures.
During a seven-day truce last November, 105 hostages were exchanged for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
