Thai negotiator thanks Iran for release of Hamas captives

News Desk - The cradle 

Thai laborers were among the first released by Hamas as part of a captive exchange and temporary truce with Israel after almost two months of war

Three Thai captives - Pornsawan Pinakalo, Wichian Temthon and Surin Kesungnoen are greeted by friends at a hospital in Israel after being released. (Photo credit Bangkok Post/Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The head of the team negotiating the release of Thai workers taken captive by Hamas on 7 October has thanked Iran for its assistance in securing the release of 17 so far.

Lerpong Sayed, a Thai Muslim, stated that it was Thailand's historic relationship with Iran that proved critical.

"I'd like to thank Iran - both the government and the people who have been supportive in negotiating with Hamas."

During Hamas’ 7 October surprise attack on Israeli settlements surrounding Gaza, its fighters took some 240 people captive, including Israeli soldiers, civilians, and Thai laborers working on Israeli forms near the Gaza border.

Dr Sayed believes 15 Thais are still being held in Gaza and they will also be released.

In recent weeks, he has shuttled between Thailand and Iran, where he spoke to Hamas representatives five times.

"We went there to negotiate as normal people, not politicians. Hamas saw this. They saw us as Thai Muslims," he told Sky News.

"They promised that if there was a ceasefire, Thai people would be released in the first group. Now we can obviously see Thais are among the first citizens freed compared to 20 other nationalities."

Thailand's population of 70 million people is predominantly Buddhist and has largely peacefully co-existed with its sizeable Muslim minority.

Before the war, some 30,000 Thai laborers worked in Israel, predominantly in the agricultural sector. Many can make a much higher wage in Israel, and send much of their earnings back to Thailand to support their families.

When the Sky News correspondent stated that Hamas had also killed 39 Thais were during the 7 October attack, Dr Sayed stated, “39 Thais were killed that’s for sure. But we don’t know where or how. It’s a war.”

In response to the Hamas attack, Israeli forces responded with overwhelming fire power, using tanks, Apache helicopters, and armed drones to target Hamas fighters taking captives back to Gaza, killing some captives in the process. 

Dr Sayed stated he is confident that the Thai hostages have been treated well.

He says the released captives told their families, "they were well taken care of, well looked after, given shelter, clothes, food and water and given mental support.”

The negotiator insists there were no conditions from Hamas on what the captives could or could not say upon their release, and that scenes of Hamas fighters waving good bye to them were sincere.

He also said Hamas was justified in taking captives.

It was "to help the Palestinians," he said, citing the thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisons and decades of Israeli occupation and mistreatment.

But he said Hamas had warned Thais against working in farms near Gaza, telling him, "The border area is disputed land and it's war time and Hamas will consider anyone who works there is working for the outlaws."