Iran Says Some Israeli Captives To Be Released If Gaza Strikes Cease

Iran’s ambassador to Thailand says some of the hostages taken captive by the Hamas after their attack on Israel will be set free when the IDF ceases bombardment of Gaza.

According to the Bangkok Post, Reza Nobakhti, speaking at a press conference held in Bangkok, discussed the hostages who hold Thai citizenship. He mentioned that he had been informed that Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, who met with Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas in Qatar last week, requested the release of the hostages as well as Filipino captives.

Among the approximately 200 hostages that Hamas has brought from Israel to Gaza, there are citizens from various countries, including 19 Thai nationals and individuals from the Philippines.

Nobakhti stated that all Thai hostages are being kept "safely in good health" in Palestinian territories, and the "well-being of Thai hostages is the main concern of Iranian authorities."

As of now, at least 30 Thais have been killed since the start of the war between Hamas and Israel.

He added that Hamas has agreed to release the hostages; however, “the challenge is that, due to Israel's continuous bombardment, they are unable to transfer the hostages from Gaza to Israel.”

On Friday Hamas announced the release of two American hostages, a mother and her daughter, following Qatar's mediation.

Bloomberg also reported that the United States and some European countries have called on Israel to postpone the ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, considering the ongoing negotiations for the release of hostages via Qatar.

Israel, in response, stated that the release of two American hostages by Hamas will not affect the country's ongoing military operations.