Thai Hostages Released

A second group of Thai hostages who were released by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip were brought home on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Six Thai hostages kidnapped and held for weeks in the Gaza Strip by Hamas will arrive back in the kingdom on Monday, officials said.

Natthawaree Mulkan walked through the airport arrival gates and straight into her mother's arms, both crying with joy, meeting for the first time after losing touch for nearly two months when she was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.

Thirteen Israeli and four Thai nationals released from Hamas captivity arrived in Israel and were set to be reunited with their families as part of a crucial hostage deal, which briefly risked falling apart due to a dispute over aid supplies.

When Natthawaree Mulkan's mother saw that her daughter was among the Thai hostages released by Hamas, she was so happy she danced with her 8-year-old granddaughter outside their home in northeastern Thailand.

Vetoon Phoome's family feared the Thai farm worker had been killed by Hamas in last month's attack on Israel, until they found out on Saturday he had been freed along with other Thai hostages in Gaza.

Iran facilitated Friday's release of 10 Thai hostages from Gaza, providing a list of names to Palestinian group Hamas after a request to do so by Thailand's Foreign Ministry and parliamentary speaker, Iran's embassy in Thailand said.

Twelve Thai hostages have already been released by Hamas, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on X. Embassy officials are on the way to receive the freed hostages, he added.

Thai-Muslim politicians said on Thursday they had received assurances from the Palestinian group Hamas that all the Thai hostages being held would be among those released if mediators succeed in brokering a truce in Gaza.

Thai officials held direct talks with Hamas in Iran last week over the fate of 22 of the kingdom's nationals taken hostage by the Palestinian group in its attack on Israel, the head of the Thai delegation said.

A second group of Thai hostages who were released by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip were brought home on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Six Thai hostages kidnapped and held for weeks in the Gaza Strip by Hamas will arrive back in the kingdom on Monday, officials said.

Natthawaree Mulkan walked through the airport arrival gates and straight into her mother's arms, both crying with joy, meeting for the first time after losing touch for nearly two months when she was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7.

Thirteen Israeli and four Thai nationals released from Hamas captivity arrived in Israel and were set to be reunited with their families as part of a crucial hostage deal, which briefly risked falling apart due to a dispute over aid supplies.

When Natthawaree Mulkan's mother saw that her daughter was among the Thai hostages released by Hamas, she was so happy she danced with her 8-year-old granddaughter outside their home in northeastern Thailand.

Vetoon Phoome's family feared the Thai farm worker had been killed by Hamas in last month's attack on Israel, until they found out on Saturday he had been freed along with other Thai hostages in Gaza.

Iran facilitated Friday's release of 10 Thai hostages from Gaza, providing a list of names to Palestinian group Hamas after a request to do so by Thailand's Foreign Ministry and parliamentary speaker, Iran's embassy in Thailand said.

Twelve Thai hostages have already been released by Hamas, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on X. Embassy officials are on the way to receive the freed hostages, he added.

Thai-Muslim politicians said on Thursday they had received assurances from the Palestinian group Hamas that all the Thai hostages being held would be among those released if mediators succeed in brokering a truce in Gaza.

Thai officials held direct talks with Hamas in Iran last week over the fate of 22 of the kingdom's nationals taken hostage by the Palestinian group in its attack on Israel, the head of the Thai delegation said.