Around 12 Thai hostages were released on Friday in a separate agreement mediated by Qatar and Egypt with Hamas, an official briefed on the talks said, adding that the hostages were all men and were not covered by the truce deal with Israel that relates to women and children.
The separate negotiation track was opened when Thailand's foreign minister visited Qatar on Oct. 31, which led to a specific agreement with Hamas to release the Thais, the official added.
