Iran’s Foreign Ministry declared on Monday that Hamas is “ready” to release its hostages on the condition that Israel halts its airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel reported Monday. The hostage count under the control of the notorious terrorist group has surged to a staggering 199 individuals.
At a press conference held in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani asserted that Hamas officials expressed their readiness to free hostages. However, they lamented the impracticality of such actions amidst the relentless barrage of Israeli airstrikes in the region, as relayed by Kanaani.
Simultaneously, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Monday that the number of hostages in Gaza has skyrocketed to at least 199, a revelation significantly surpassing earlier estimates.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the military spokesperson, disclosed that families have been notified. However, he withheld details on the nationality of the captives and the groups responsible, though it is widely believed that most are under the sway of Hamas.
Iran, a steadfast supporter of Hamas, issued a stern warning, suggesting its potential involvement in the conflict if Israel proceeds with the anticipated ground offensive in the Gaza Strip in the coming days.
Against this backdrop, the Israeli military reiterated its preparedness for a comprehensive range of offensive plans, including coordinated attacks from air, sea, and land. Meanwhile, Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based terrorist organization, injected further volatility by launching missiles into Israel, framing it as a “warning” rather than a full-fledged entry into the war.
Kanaani conveyed Hamas’ resilience, stating, “We heard from the resistance that they have no problem continuing to resist. They said the resistance holds military capability to continue resisting in the field for a long time.”
As the conflict rages on, the toll mounts, with the Palestinian health ministry reporting over 2,600 deaths in Gaza and Israeli officials acknowledging at least 1,400 deaths in Israel.
