Qatar PM says efforts ongoing to release Hamas hostages, including Thais

Doha, Qatar – Prime minister told Thailand’s visiting foreign minister Tuesday that efforts were ongoing to secure the release of hostages, including Thais, held by Palestinian militant group Hamas, despite their “complexity”.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani made the remarks as Thailand’s Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara began an urgent trip to Qatar and Egypt for talks on the fate of 22 Thais taken hostage by Hamas in its attack on Israel.

Israeli authorities say more than 1,400 people, mostly civilians, were killed and more than 230 hostages taken in the October 7 attack launched by the Palestinian militant group from the Gaza Strip.

In response, the Israeli military has pounded Gaza, where the Hamas-controlled health ministry says more than 8,300 have been killed — more than 3,000 of them children.

Of the more than 230 hostages Israel says are being held in Gaza,…