Hamas Official Hisham Qasem Explains The Abduction Of Thai Nationals To Gaza: We Detained Them For Their Own Safety Due To Indiscriminate Israeli Shelling Of The Area

Hamas official Hisham Qasem discussed the release of Thai nationals abducted by Hamas on October 7 on a November 26, 2023 show on TRT TV (Turkey). He said that Hamas “detained” them for their own safety, due to Israel’s shelling of the Al-Qassam Brigades, foreign laborers, and Israeli civilians in the area. Qasem acknowledged Turkey’s role in mediating their release.

Hisham Qasem: "[Turkey and Hamas] discussed the release of some of the [Thai] detainees. As we said at the beginning of the October 7 operation, these [Thai nationals] were detained for their own protection, because on October 7, the forces of the Zionist army was shelling the houses with people inside – whether members of the Al-Qassam Brigades, [foreign] laborers, or even the Zionist inhabitants of those settlements.

"This was admitted in the initial investigation of the Interior Ministry, as reported by Maariv and Haaretz. So yes, the brothers in Turkey made contacts about this. The brothers delivered this message, and the release of 11 Thai detainees was arranged, as part of yesterday's exchange. It was agreed that 13 Zionists would be released yesterday, and ultimately, 24 people were released, 11 of whom were Thai nationals, in acceptance of this blessed mediation by Turkey."