Iran tried to pressure Israel into ending its revenge airstrikes on Gaza by claiming Monday that the Hamas terrorists long sponsored by Tehran would be willing to free the 199 hostages now known to have been taken during the slaughter of more than 1,400 people.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani claimed that Hamas is “ready” to release the hostages, but doing so would be “impossible” under Israeli airstrikes in the region.
He reckoned that 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 bombardment by the Zionists against various parts of Gaza,” Kanaani said.
Despite this, Hamas has yet to make such an offer publicly.
The terror group did, however, speak out Monday to maintain that its unprecedented Oct. 7 attack was a solo effort not driven by Iran, despite widespread belief among Israeli and Western officials.
The war in Gaza is “a Palestinian battle and the decision to enter it was a Palestinian decision” made by Hamas and its military wing, the Izz ad-Din al Qassam Brigades, “together with the Palestinian resistance factions,” according to Hamas’ rep in Lebanon, Ahmed Abdul-Hadi.
Although no government worldwide has offered direct evidence to support the widely held belief that Iran orchestrated the attack, Tehran has long sponsored Hamas, including training, funding and providing it with weapons.
Abdul-Hadi said that Hamas allies Iran and Hezbollah will not allow Israel “to crush Gaza” or to launch a “comprehensive ground attack,” but that the groups have deliberately left ambiguity about when and how they would respond. “This is up to the developments in the situation at the time.”
In case of a “ground attack, regardless of its level,” or if “more and more massacres continue to be committed” in Gaza and Hamas is using up its resources, he said, there will be “surprises announced.”
Israel held firm Monday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stating, “There is no ceasefire.”
It came as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday confirmed that at least 199 hostages are known to be held in Gaza, a number much greater than previously believed.
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Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said families have been notified. He did not say how many held captive were foreigners, or who was holding them, though most are believed to be held by Hamas, which rules Gaza.
The terrorists have previously threatened to post footage of hostages being executed in revenge for Israeli counterstrikes.
Iran’s government has backed Hamas, and Iranian security officials are widely thought to have helped the terror group plan its Oct. 7 sneak attack on Israel, according to reports.
Iran has cautioned it could enter the war as well if Israel launches a widely anticipated ground offensive in the Gaza Strip in the coming days.
Worst attack on Israel in 50 years: How we got here
2005: Israel unilaterally withdraws from the Gaza Strip over three decades after winning the territory from Egypt in the Six-Day War.
2006: Terrorist group Hamas wins a Palestinian legislative election.
2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza in a civil war.
2008: Israel launches military offensive against Gaza after Palestinian terrorists fired rockets into the town of Sderot.
2023: Hamas launches the biggest attack on Israel in 50 years.
Over 1,400 Israelis are dead, more than 3,500 are wounded and at least 100 were taken hostage, with the death toll expected to rise after Hamas terrorists fired thousands of rockets and sent dozens of militants into Israeli towns.
Hamas terrorists were seen taking female hostages and parading them down the street in horrifying videos.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “We are at war” and vowed Hamas would pay “a price it has never known.”
Gaza health officials report at least 2,750 Palestinians have been killed and more than 9,700 injured.
The Israeli military again said Saturday that it is “preparing to implement a wide range of offensive operative plans which include, among other things, an integrated and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land.”
The Lebanon-based terrorist organization Hezbollah has already waded into the conflict by launching missiles into Israel, a move it insists is a “warning” rather than an entry into the war.
Follow along with The Post’s live blog for the latest on Hamas’ attack on Israel
“We heard from the resistance that they have no problem to continue resisting,” Kanaani said, referring to Hamas. “They said the resistance holds military capability to continue resisting in the field for a long time.”
More than 2,600 people in Gaza have died as Israel pounds the region with missiles, the Palestinian health ministry said. Officials in Israel say the ongoing conflict has killed at least 1,400.
With Post wires
