During a meeting yesterday (Oct 13), Ambassador Sagiv also pledged to expedite the identification and return of any Thai nationals believed to be deceased, reports Bangkok Post.
However, the prospect of any country aiding its citizens abducted by Hamas is uncertain due to the current precarious state of the escalating conflict, as stated by Walid Abu Ali, the Palestinian ambassador to Thailand during a press briefing on the same day (Oct 13).
He called on the international community to exert pressure on both sides of the Israel-Hamas war to halt hostilities before initiating any hostage retrieval efforts.
Prime Minister Srettha emphasized that while Thailand is not involved in the conflict, it has suffered significant casualties, ranking second only to the United States. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Thailand, the recent attacks have resulted in 21 Thais killed, 14 injured, and 16 held hostage.
As the conflict intensifies, concerns grow about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the long-blockaded Gaza Strip, where Israel has implemented a complete blockade, disrupting access to water, food, and energy supplies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for the establishment of an immediate humanitarian corridor into Gaza.
On Friday (Oct 13), Israel issued an evacuation order, giving Palestinians 24 hours to leave the northern Gaza Strip in anticipation of a potential ground offensive in retaliation for the deadliest attack in Israeli history perpetrated by Hamas.
Although Israel did not officially confirm the deadline, it stated that more time could be granted if necessary. The United Nations expressed its concern, describing the immediate relocation of nearly half of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents as "impossible" and called for the withdrawal order to be rescinded.
As the conflict continues, thousands of Palestinians have already fled to southern Gaza for refuge. Israeli ground forces have carried out "localised" operations against Hamas to purge the area of terrorists and weaponry while searching for missing persons.
According to Palestinian reports, more than 1,900 Gazans have been killed in missile strikes, the majority of them civilians, including over 600 children. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, during her visit to Israel, accused Hamas of using Gaza residents as human shields, while US President Joe Biden highlighted that the majority of Palestinians had no association with Hamas and condemned their actions.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza.
Tensions grow outside of Gaza Strip. In the occupied West Bank, clashes with Israeli forces during protests in support of Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 16 Palestinians, as reported by the Palestinian side.
Demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinians occurred in Beirut, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, and Bahrain, where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting as part of a regional tour aimed at maintaining stability in the Arab world.
Additional reporting by AFP