On Friday, Iran facilitated the release of 10 Thai nationals, who were among nearly 240 people taken captive by Hamas during its surprise military blitz against the Israeli regime on October 7.
Thailand’s Foreign Ministry had reportedly requested Iran’s assistance in securing their release.
“Since the first week of the Zionist regime’s war against Gaza, and following requests from Thai officials, including telephone discussions and the meeting between the foreign minister of Thailand and our foreign minister in Doha… the Islamic Republic of Iran jointly pursued the matter with Qatar,” Kan’ani told Iranian media.
“A list of the names of these prisoners was provided to Hamas officials for taking into account and assistance from a humanitarian perspective,” he noted.
After weeks of negotiations, Hamas on Friday released the first batch of prisoners it had agreed to set free under a truce deal with Israeli regime that came into effect in the morning.
Hamas combatants took 237 people into captivity from Israeli-controlled occupied territories in October 7 attack known as Al-Aqsa Storm Operation. Under the deal for a four-day truce, Hamas is to release 50 unarmed prisoners in exchange for the release of 150 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel and a pause in fighting. However, more than those numbers might be released, officials indicated, according to Al Jazeera.
srael’s Prison Service said on Saturday it was preparing 42 prisoners for release, suggesting Hamas would release 14 Israeli prisoners in return, media reported.
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