A Thai Muslim group which spoke directly with Hamas said their efforts were the driving force securing the release of Thai hostages from Gaza during a temporary truce, countering reports that gave credit to the foreign ministry and other negotiators. Three Thai hostages held by Hamas were released from Gaza on Sunday, taking the number of Thai nationals freed since the four-day truce began on Friday to 17. "We were the sole party that spoke to Hamas since the beginning of the war to ask for the release of Thais," Thai-Iran Alumni Association President Lerpong Syed told Reuters on Monday. The group conveyed to Hamas during a three-hour meeting that Thais were not party to the conflict and should be freed, he said, after which Hamas gave assurances that Thais would be released first and unconditionally once there was a cease-fire. Before the war, around 30,000 Thai laborers worked in Israel's agriculture sector, making up one of the largest migrant worker groups in the country. (Reuters)