Iran claims that if Israel ceases its attacks on Gaza, Hamas is prepared to free at least 199 captives. Iran claims that if Israel ceases its attacks on Gaza, Hamas is prepared to free at least 199 captives. On Monday, October 16, Iran's Foreign Ministry asserted that, because at least 199 people are now known to have been captured by terrorists, the Hamas militant organization was prepared to free its hostages provided Israel stopped its attacks along the Gaza Strip. Under Israeli bombardment in the area, Hamas authorities are "ready" to free hostages, but doing so would be "impossible," Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani reported during a press conference in Tehran.

 According to Kanaani (pictured below), the terror group, "stated that they are ready to take necessary measures to release the citizens and civilians held by resistant groups, but their point was that such measures require preparations that are impossible under daily Zionist bombardment against various parts of Gaza."

It happened on Monday, when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared that there are currently at least 199 hostages being held in Gaza, a far higher figure than previously thought. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, stated that families have been informed. Though the majority are thought to be in the hands of Hamas, which controls Gaza, he did not specify the number of foreigners held hostage or who was holding them.

Iran claims that if Israel ceases its attacks on Gaza, Hamas is prepared to free at least 199 captives. Iran's government backs Hamas, and indications suggest that Iranian security personnel assisted the terror organization in organizing its October 7 suicide strike on Israel. Iran has issued a warning, threatening to join the conflict as well, should Israel begin its much-anticipated ground attack in the Gaza Strip in the days ahead.

Since the start of the conflict, more than 1,400 Israelis have died, more than 3,500 have been injured, and at least 100 have been held prisoner. The death toll is predicted to climb as a result of hundreds of rockets fired by Hamas terrorists and the deployment of dozens of militants into Israeli communities.