Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered a reward of $5 million for every captive released from Gaza, promising those who help free Israelis held by Hamas safe passage out of the war-torn territory. He made the announcement during a short visit to the Gaza Strip, inspecting the Netzarim Corridor, an access road carved through the Israeli military.
“To those seeking to extricate themselves from this entanglement, I say: Whoever brings us a hostage will find a secure way out for themselves and their families. We will also offer $5 million for every hostage,” Netanyahu stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “The choice is yours, but the outcome will be the same: We will bring them all back.”
Current estimates put the number of captives held in Gaza at about 101, with reports saying as many as a large portion of those may have already died. Netanyahu’s reward offer comes amid ongoing mass protests in Israel, where captive families and their supporters are demanding a ceasefire deal with Hamas in exchange for freedom for their loved ones.
Despite these pressures, Netanyahu has consistently asserted that military action is the only viable option to ensure the safe return of all captives. Families of the hostages have criticized his government for not doing enough to negotiate a ceasefire, especially as a former aide to Netanyahu faces arrest for allegedly leaking classified information to foreign media, which may have undermined previous truce negotiations.
Analysts say Netanyahu’s reluctance to seek a cease-fire might reflect his concern it could undermine his far-right government and trigger investigations into failures in preparation for the Hamas attack on October 7. In addition, Netanyahu is under investigation in another corruption case.
During a rally in Tel Aviv, on November 9, 2024, demonstrators waved posters of Netanyahu alongside pictures of the hostages reportedly still held in Gaza, including a baby from the Bibas family.
Hamas has accused Israeli negotiators of lacking seriousness in trying to reach a cease-fire agreement. Netanyahu commended the operations of the Israeli military in Gaza and promised that Hamas will not be permitted to take control of the territory again. “The Israeli military has achieved excellent results, and the best is yet to come. Hamas will no longer exist in Gaza,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UN special committee probing the conflict has defined Israel’s actions as displaying attributes of genocide, with accusations that the nation is using starvation as a tool of war against Palestinian civilians. The committee asserted that the humanitarian situation was catastrophic, as it charged Israeli military operations have killed almost 44,000 Palestinians and more than 104,000 injured.
Also on Tuesday, leaders of the Group of 20 major economies, meeting in Rio de Janeiro, expressed deep concern over the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza and called for comprehensive ceasefires to allow citizens to return safely to their homes in both southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
