A delegation from Bangkok met with Hamas leaders in Iran over the 22 Thais taken hostage by the Islamist movement, who were waiting for the “right moment” to be released, one of the negotiators said.
“They assured me they would take care of it, but didn’t tell me anything about a release date. They are waiting for the right moment,” Areepen Uttarasin told reporters on Wednesday when asked about the meeting that took place in Tehran on October 26 last year.
Mr. Uttarasin leads the group of three negotiators, all from Thailand’s large Muslim community, appointed by National Assembly Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.
“They have taken our concerns into account because they know that Thailand has shown kindness to the Muslim community. They respect Thailand,” he stressed.
According to Israeli authorities, at least 240 hostages remain in the hands of Hamas since they were kidnapped on October 7 during the attack by commandos of the Islamist movement in southern Israel.
Bangkok has recorded 22 Thai hostages, in addition to 32 other deceased citizens, a figure that makes the Southeast Asian kingdom one of the countries hardest hit by the conflict.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin reiterated that her government was working towards the release of the hostages. The Foreign Minister visited Qatar and Egypt in particular during the week.
Mr Thavisin spoke by telephone with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu late on Wednesday.
“He told me he was doing his best to provide immediate assistance to the Thai hostages,” the executive said.
When the conflict broke out, around 30,000 Thais were working in Israel, often in the agricultural sector. The kingdom has since organized the repatriation of more than 7,000 of its citizens.