Thai negotiators held talks with Hamas in attempt to free hostages

Thousands of Thai people who were working in Israel have been evacuated on government flights since the fighting began. Photograph: Sakchai Lalit/AP

Thai officials held talks with Hamas in Iran last week in an effort to secure the release of the 22 Thai people taken hostage during its attack on Israel.

Officials, who held a two-hour meeting with Hamas in Tehran on 26 October, were told that the Thai hostages would be released at “the right time”, and they were being looked after, according to Areepen Uttarasin, a lead negotiator.