As cease-fire talks to end the fighting in Gaza continue to stall, Israel estimates around a hundred hostages remain in Hamas custody. Now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is offering a $5 million reward for anyone who returns a hostage and to provide those who do with safe passage out of Gaza.
Netanyahu announced the reward during a visit to Gaza on Tuesday, Nov. 19, where he was shown the Israeli military’s Netzarim corridor — a key access road and buffer zone constructed by Israel’s army to dissect northern Gaza from the southern part.
“I want to say to those who are holding our hostages: Whoever dares to harm our hostages will pay the price. We will pursue you and we will find you,” Netanyahu said.
“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,” he added .”The choice is yours but the result will be the same: We will bring them all back.”
Of the 101 captives still estimated to remain in Gaza, about a third of them are believed to already be dead.