In an effort to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, the Israeli government announced a $5 million reward for information leading to the freedom of each captive.
Prime Minister Netanyahu made the announcement during a visit to the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza, a region witnessing intense fighting as Israel works to suppress Hamas.
“To those seeking to leave this conflict, I say: Anyone who brings us a hostage will receive safe passage for themselves and their family,” Netanyahu stated alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to Israeli news agency TPS. “We will also pay $5 million for each hostage. The choice is yours, but the outcome will be the same.”
“We will bring them all back,” Netanyahu affirmed.
Digital was unable to immediately obtain comment from Netanyahu’s office or the White House regarding ongoing hostage recovery efforts.
The Hostage Family Forum also declined to comment.
Of the 251 individuals abducted during the October 7, 2023 attacks, 101 remain in Hamas’s custody.
At least 33 of the hostages are believed to have been killed; Hamas continues to hold their remains, including those of three American citizens, as leverage.
Ruby Chen, father of American hostage Itay Chen, who was ambushed near the border while serving in the IDF on October 7th, expressed skepticism about the reward’s effectiveness.
“I think [Netanyahu’s] initiative is a tactical maneuver, not a strategic one,” Chen commented.
Sources suggest Netanyahu’s announcement is a calculated move, avoiding specifics on what Israel won’t do (e.g., leaving Gaza), and focusing instead on tangible offers to secure all hostages, rather than a smaller number in a potential ceasefire.
Netanyahu, who also met with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, vowed that Hamas would not regain control of Gaza.
“Hamas will not rule in Gaza,” Netanyahu stated. “We are significantly degrading its military capabilities and targeting its governance; this is an ongoing operation. Hamas will not be in Gaza.”
The prime minister lauded the IDF’s success against Hamas and, with his defense minister, discussed ongoing challenges and operations with IDF reserve brigade commanders on the Gaza coast.
In September, the IDF assessed that Hamas had suffered significant losses, but that remnants continue guerrilla tactics requiring sustained effort to dismantle.
Israel has not specified a timeline for ending its military operations in Gaza; peace talks earlier this year stalled due to seemingly irreconcilable disagreements over security corridors in the Gaza Strip.
The path forward in Israeli-Hamas relations remains unclear.
The U.S., representing Israel, collaborated with Qatar and Egypt (representing Hamas) for weeks to end the conflict, which has reportedly claimed approximately 43,000 lives in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, over half of whom were reportedly women and children. However, these figures don’t specify terrorist casualties.
Earlier this month, Qatar announced its withdrawal from mediation due to a perceived lack of good-faith efforts from both Hamas and Israel.