Turkish intelligence brokers release of Thai hostages from Hamas
The Turkish intelligence agency (MIT) negotiated with Palestinian Hamas for the release of five hostages from Thailand, who returned to Israel on Thursday, Turkish media reported, citing security service sources.
According to the media, Turkish intelligence (MIT) took action to free five hostages from Thailand who were held by Palestinian Hamas. The hostages returned to Israel on Thursday.
Turkish intelligence operations were coordinated with the relevant services in Thailand. The Daily Sabah portal reported that five Thai immigrants were among a group of eight hostages released as part of an exchange, which is part of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, effective since January 19. The Thais had been working on Israeli farms.
Erdogan's meeting with Hamas
On Wednesday, the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, met in Ankara with a Hamas delegation, including one of its leaders, Muhammad Darwish. Erdogan emphasized that Hamas is not a terrorist organization but a resistance movement.
Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in 2023, relations between Turkey and Israel have significantly deteriorated. Erdogan accused Israel of genocide and imposed a trade embargo on the country.
The death of eight hostages
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer recently announced that eight out of 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas have died who were supposed to be released in the ongoing first phase of the ceasefire.
The ceasefire came into effect on January 19, and its first phase will last until the beginning of March. Under the agreement, during this time, 33 hostages are to be exchanged for approximately 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
