The Thailand government celebrated on Thursday the release of five of its citizens in Gaza after 15 months kidnapped by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamás, while requested the release of a last hostage from that country that is supposed to be alive in the strip . The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed in a statement his satisfaction for the release of Thai hostages who were retained in the enclave and now “are being transferred to a hospital to receive medical treatment.” There they will meet officials from the Embassy and the Thai Foreign Ministry “to facilitate and immediately contact their families.” The Thai government also conveyed its “deep thanks” to Qatar, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, the United States and the International Red Cross Committee for its contribution to specify these liberations. Bangkok greeted Israel’s work in terms of “taking care of them and facilitating their return to Thailand”, and reiterated his request that all hostages be released as soon as possible. Shortly before, the office of the Israeli prime minister confirmed the identities of the five Thai who were released today with two Israeli hostages, and which were made available to the Red Cross in southern Gaza by the Islamic and Hamas jihad. This is Watchara Sriaou, Pongsak Tanna, Sathian Suwankam, Bannawat Seathao and Surasak Lamnau, five of the eight Thai who were still kidnapped in Gaza.
