In a notable announcement made during his address at the United Nations, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian revealed that Hamas is willing to release its hostages under the condition that 6,000 Palestinians currently held in Israeli detention are also set free.

"Based on our ongoing negotiations, Hamas has expressed its readiness to release civilian captives. In return, the international community is urged to support the release of the 6,000 Palestinians incarcerated in Israeli prisons," Amirabdollahian conveyed during a session of the 193-member General Assembly dedicated to the Middle East this past Thursday.

The Iranian Foreign Minister underscored that Hamas had communicated this stipulation to Iran.

During his speech, Amirabdollahian sounded a cautionary note, asserting that if Israel's rocket strikes into the Gaza Strip, launched in response to an attack by Hamas on October 7, persist, the United States could face repercussions.

"To American statesmen, who are currently overseeing the situation in Palestine, I want to be clear: we do not seek a regional escalation of hostilities. However, if the suffering in Gaza endures, they will not be exempt from the consequences," he warned.

Amirabdollahian expressed Iran's willingness to participate in this "vital humanitarian initiative" alongside Qatar and Turkey. He emphasized, "The release of the 6,000 Palestinian detainees is an additional imperative and a shared responsibility of the global community."

Earlier in the week, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken addressed the United Nations, expressing a desire to avoid conflict with Iran. However, he emphasized that the United States would act swiftly and decisively if Iran or its proxies were to target U.S. personnel anywhere.

Blinken's statement comes amid growing global concerns that the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza could potentially escalate into a broader war, possibly involving Lebanon's well-armed Hezbollah, another group with ties to Tehran.

Additionally, the U.S. military has implemented new security measures to safeguard its personnel in the Middle East, given rising apprehensions about potential attacks by Iran-affiliated factions, as reported by officials speaking to Reuters.

The United States has dispatched warships and fighter aircraft to the Middle East to deter Iran and its associated groups. This deployment includes two aircraft carriers. According to Pentagon sources, nearly 900 additional troops have either arrived in the Middle East or are en route to the region to enhance air defense for U.S. personnel.

The ongoing and deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas, now in its 21st day, has resulted in a tragic toll of over 8,000 lives lost on both sides. The confrontation was triggered by a surprise and unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, during which the terrorist organization fired over 5,000 rockets from the Gaza Strip and infiltrated southern Israeli towns, leading to the killing of civilians in the streets and within their homes. Israel's retaliatory strikes have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, prompting world leaders to call for an immediate ceasefire. Notably, Hamas has taken approximately 200 hostages from Israel, with four individuals, including two Americans and two Israelis, having been released thus far.

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