The Chair of the Social Science Division of Mahidol University International College (MUIC) was recently interviewed on BBC News Live and Christian Science Monitor on the issue of Thai hostages released in Gaza.

Asst. Prof. William J. Jones was interviewed by BBC on November 27, 2023 where he said the negotiations for the hostages’ release were “undertaken by the Thai National Security Council rather than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs MFA and that Thailand was working with its partners within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation which included Malaysia, Turkiye, Iran, Egypt and Qatar which the Thai government has excellent relations.”

Earlier, he was interviewed by the Christian Science Monitor and in an article posted on its website on November 21, 2023 entitled “In Potential Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal, Thailand’s Stakes are High,” Asst. Prof. Jones noted that “This is a big win for the Srettha government… The release of Thai hostages is deeply important to the Thai population.”

Although the Thai and Israeli governments enjoy close political and economic ties, he said the Thai government must also balance its handling of the situation—on one hand, most of the hostages come from Isaan region which is a Pheu Thai stronghold while the volatile South is majority Muslim in sympathy with the plight of civilian Palestinians.