Iran’s Foreign Ministry today claimed Hamas is ready to release its hostages if Israel stops its airstrikes along the Gaza Strip – as the number known to have been taken by the terror group rose to at least 199.
Hamas officials are “ready” to release the hostages, but doing so is “impossible” under Israeli airstrikes in the region, Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference in Tehran.
The terrorist group “stated that they are ready to take the necessary steps to free the people and civilians held by the opposition groups, but they mean that such steps require preparations that are impossible under the daily bombardment by the Zionists against various parts of Gaza, ” Kanaani said.
It comes as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday confirmed that at least 199 hostages are known to be being held in Gaza, a far greater number than previously believed.
Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the family had been informed. He did not say how many of those captured were foreigners, or who was holding them, although most were believed to be held by Hamas, which rules Gaza.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Hamas was considering freeing the 199 hostages if Israel stopped its airstrikes. The Israeli AP has said it will begin a ground offensive in Gaza soon. AFP via Getty Images
The Iranian government has supported Hamas, and Iranian security officials are widely believed to have helped the terrorist group plan the October 7 sneak attack on Israel, according to reports.
Iran has warned that it could go to war as well if Israel launches a widely expected ground attack on the Gaza Strip in the coming days.
The Israeli army again said on Saturday that it is “prepared to carry out various offensive operational plans that include, among other things, integrated and coordinated attacks from the air, sea and land.”
Pictures of people reported to have been kidnapped or killed by Hamas hang on a fence at the Israeli Embassy during a rally in support of Israel in Dublin, Ireland, Sunday, Oct. 15. 2023. AP Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and Hamas’ supreme leader, Ismail Haniyeh. via REUTERS
Lebanon-based terrorist organization Hezbollah has already waded into the conflict by launching missiles into Israel, a move it insists is a “warning,” not an entry into the war.
“We heard from the resistance that they have no problem continuing to resist,” Kanaani said, referring to Hamas. “They say the resistance has the military capability to continue resisting on the ground for a long time.”
More than 2,600 people in Gaza have been killed as Israel attacked the territory with missiles, the Palestinian health ministry said. Officials in Israel say the ongoing conflict has killed at least 1,400.
With Postal wire.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
