Declaration of War?

A new modus operandi emerging in Gaza with the kidnapping of American journalists. A new group claiming responsibility and making demands. Previous kidnappings there had been used as leverage to demand jobs for relatives, a way to cash in on the patronage machine there. But this is now a direct demand for release of American Muslim prisoners in exchange for American journalists. FoxNews (emphasis mine):

The statement issued by the Holy Jihad Brigades -- the first by a Palestinian group in Gaza that made demands on a foreign country other than Israel -- demanded that Muslim prisoners in U.S. jails be released within three days in exchange for Centanni and Wiig. The group did not say what would happen if the deadline passed unanswered.

"We are going to exchange the Muslim female and male prisoners in American jails in return for the prisoners that we have. We are going to give you 72 hours, beginning midnight tonight, to take your decision," the statement said. "If you implement and meet our condition, we will fulfill our promise. If not, wait, and we are going to wait with you."

First Iran and Syria-backed Hezbollah invades Israel and kidnaps two Israeli soldiers, provoking the ensuing war in Lebanon. Now this kidnapping.What do you think, has Iran something to do with this? Is this yet another declaration of war on America, from the "Death to America" jihadists? Meanwhile Iran continues to develop nukes, exploiting the indecision of the West. Washington Post, via RCP, "Iran Pushes for Talks Without Conditions".