BANGKOK, Nov  24, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Several Thai hostages kidnapped during

Hamas's October 7 raids into Israel were released on Friday, according to the
Thai, Israeli and Qatari governments, hours after a truce in the Israel-Hamas
war began.

       A total of 25 Thai nationals were among the estimated 240 people taken
hostage by Palestinian militants during last month's wave of cross-border raids
into Israel.

       The Thai and Israeli governments said the number of Thai hostages freed on
Friday stood at 12.

       Qatar, which mediated the landmark truce and exchange of hostages taken by
Palestinian militants for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, put the number
of Thais freed by Hamas lower, at 10 people.

       In the worst attack in Israel's history, 1,200 people, mostly civilians,
were killed, according to Israeli authorities.

       Israel retaliated with a massive campaign of air, artillery and naval
strikes alongside a ground offensive into Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas.
       According to the Hamas-run government, the war has killed around 15,000
people, thousands of them children.

       On Friday, a truce began following weeks of negotiations brokered by Qatar,
Egypt and the United States.

       Under the agreement, a four-day pause in the fighting was set to see at
least 50 hostages released from Gaza in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners
held in Israeli jails.
       "It has been confirmed by the security side and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs that 12 Thai hostages are already released," Thailand's Prime Minister
Srettha Thavisin posted on X.

       The Thai foreign ministry said in a statement that the 12 released Thai
hostages had been transported into Israel via Egypt, as agreed under the terms
of the truce deal.

       "At this time, the gender and names of these Thais are not known," the
ministry said, adding that it would "do all possible to expedite their return
to Thailand."

       Nitsan Chen, head of the Israeli government's press office, said that 12
Thai hostages released by Hamas would be taken to hospital in Israel.
       
       
       - 'Gesture' -
       
       A source close to Hamas confirmed to AFP that some Thai hostages had been
freed, in addition to hostages released under the deal with Israel.
       "Hamas made a gesture to also release some Thai foreigners," the source
close to the Islamist movement said.
       An Israeli security source said 13 Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip
had been handed over into Israeli custody Friday.
       Citing a different figure for the Thai nationals, Qatar's foreign ministry
spokesman, Majed Al Ansari, said a total of 24 hostages -- 13 Israelis, 10
Thais and one Filipino -- were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza by Hamas.
       Earlier this month, the Thai foreign minister travelled to Qatar to hold
talks with his Iranian counterpart over the Thai nationals' release.
       Last week, a member of Thailand's hostage release negotiation team said his
government had been given assurances by Hamas that the kingdom's nationals held
by the armed group were "safe".
       A source with knowledge of the truce negotiations told AFP "the release of
12 Thai citizens held hostage in Gaza comes following the Thai foreign
minister's visit to Qatar and mediation efforts by the Qataris and Egyptians".
       About 30,000 Thais were working in Israel, mostly in the agriculture
sector, at the time of the October 7 attacks, according to the kingdom's labour
ministry.

       Thirty-nine Thai citizens have been killed and 19 wounded in the war, with
the kingdom evacuating more than 8,500 of its people, according to Bangkok's
foreign ministry.