Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kanaani said during a news conference in Tehran that Hamas is “ready to take necessary measures to release the citizens and civilians held,” but that “such measures require preparations that are impossible under daily bombardment by the Zionists against various parts of Gaza.” The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has confirmed that 199 people are being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. While denying claims that it assisted Hamas in the surprise terror attack launched against Israel on October 7, Iran said that if Israel launches an anticipated ground invasion of Gaza, they will intervene. Israel has urged the evacuation of Gaza by civilians, with reports that Hamas has set up roadblocks preventing people from moving towards the Rafah border crossing with Egypt. Egypt has kept the crossing closed but reports suggest that an Egyptian military buildup in the area is in preparation for the crossing to opened.
