An initial group of 12 Thai hostages have been released by Hamas, according to Thailand’s prime minister.
A total of 25 hostages are expected to be released from Gaza on Friday by Hamas under the terms of a truce, with 13 Israeli women and children also due to cross into Egypt.
The Thai hostages were collected by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), then handed to Israeli forces across the Egyptian border shortly after the agreed time of 4pm (2pm GMT).
Thailand’s prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, posted on X/Twitter: “It has been confirmed by the Security Department and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that there are 12 Thai hostages already released. Embassy officials are on their way to pick them up in another hour.
“Their names and details should be known. Please stay tuned.”
The 13 Israeli hostages are expected to cross the border soon.
Hamas agreed to deliver the group – among around 240 captured during its 7 October incursion – in return for the release 39 of Palestinians from Israeli jails.
An Israeli official said earlier that military transport helicopters would take part in the repatriation of Israeli hostages, suggesting they would pick them up at an Egyptian airport – perhaps in El Arish, near Gaza.
The plan had not been formally confirmed by Cairo.
If any of the released hostages need urgent medical treatment, they will be flown to Soroka Hospital in Be’er Sheva, southern Israel.
Otherwise, they will be taken to one of five assigned hospitals in Israel, where they will receive treatment in an isolated complex.
It is expected that a total of 50 Israeli hostages, all women and children, will be returned over the four-day truce in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians, also women and children, from Israeli prisons.
