Netanyahu offers $5 million to Palestinians for every Israeli hostage they help free

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a bold move on Tuesday to secure the release of the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. During a visit to the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza, Netanyahu announced a $5 million reward per captive to any Palestinian who helps in securing their freedom.

Standing alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz, Netanyahu stated, \”To those who want to leave this entanglement I say: Whoever brings us a hostage, will find a safe way out for himself and his family. We will also give $5 million for every hostage. Choose, the choice is yours, but the result will be the same. We will bring them all back.\”

As of now, there are 101 hostages believed to be held by Hamas out of the 251 people abducted during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, including seven Americans. At least 33 hostages are believed to have been killed, with their bodies still being held by Hamas as bargaining chips.

Despite Netanyahu’s offer, some family members of the hostages remain skeptical. Ruby Chen, the father of American hostage Itay Chen, expressed doubts about the effectiveness of the reward system, calling it a \”smoke screen\” and a tactical move rather than a strategic one.

Netanyahu, during his visit to the Netzarim Corridor, also met with IDF commanders to discuss Hamas activity. He vowed that Hamas would never regain power in Gaza, emphasizing that the terrorist group’s military capabilities were being eliminated. Additionally, Netanyahu assured that Israel’s military operations in Gaza would continue until the threat posed by Hamas was fully dismantled.

While peace talks between Israel and Hamas have hit a standstill, efforts to end the deadly conflict continue. The U.S., representing Israel, had been working closely with Qatar and Egypt, representing Hamas, in mediation efforts. However, Qatar recently withdrew from the mediation process due to a lack of willingness from both sides to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Overall, Netanyahu’s announcement of the reward for the release of hostages marks a significant step towards resolving the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Despite the challenges ahead, Israel remains committed to bringing back all hostages and ensuring the safety and security of its citizens.