Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu presents a $5 million bounty for hostages released from Gaza

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, said $5 million will be offered as a prize for every hostage released from Gaza, and those who assist in freeing Israelis imprisoned by Hamas will have a path out of the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

During a quick visit to Gaza on Tuesday, Netanyahu revealed the incentive offer. Israel’s army showed him the Netzarim Corridor, a crucial access road and buffer zone that divides northern Gaza from the southern section.

“To those who wish to break free from this entanglement: whomever delivers us a captive will find a safe path out for his family and himself. For each captive, we would also provide $5 million, Netanyahu remarked during his quick trip over Palestinian land.

“The choice is yours, but the result will be the same: we will bring them all back,” he added.

Though almost one-third of those estimated to be still in Gaza are thought to have perished, Israel thinks that 101 hostages remain in the territory.

As massive demonstrations in Israel continue, with families of prisoners and supporters urging the prime minister to negotiate a ceasefire deal with Hamas that would result in the release of their loved ones, Netanyahu’s prize offer becomes increasingly relevant.

Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel will continue its attack on Gaza until it achieves its goal of freeing all the hostages through military means.

Families of the hostages have blamed the Netanyahu administration for not acting enough to achieve a ceasefire agreement; a former adviser to Netanyahu has been detained on charges of leaking confidential data to foreign media in an apparent effort to undermine a previous truce pact with Hamas.

Analysts claim that Netanyahu has consistently undermined the possibility of an end to the fighting in Gaza, as it could potentially lead to the collapse of his far-right and ultranationalist government and prompt an official investigation into security lapses by Netanyahu and other Israeli officials prior to the October 7 attack. Netanyahu is under further inquiry for corruption as well.

For a long time, Hamas has been accusing Israeli negotiators of not being serious about striking a deal to stop the violence in Gaza.

Declaring the Israeli force to be “doing a wonderful job” in Gaza, Netanyahu vowed on Tuesday that Hamas would not be returning to rule Palestinian territory under any circumstances.

Netanyahu said in a statement from his office, “Here, in the central Gaza Strip and throughout the Gaza Strip, they have achieved excellent results.”

“The best is yet to come.” Hamas will not exist in Gaza anymore, he declared.

Last week, a UN special committee looking at Israel’s war on Gaza declared that Israel’s practices had traits of genocide and charged the nation of “using starving as a method of war” against Palestinian people living in the region.

According to the commission, Israel had caused Palestinians “mass civilian casualties and life-threatening conditions.”

Since the beginning of the war, Israeli leaders have openly supported programs that deprive Palestinians of the basic necessities for survival: food, water, and fuel.

Israel’s land-based campaign has claimed around 44,000 Palestinians dead and injured over 104,000 others.

Leaders of the Group of 20 big economies gathering in Rio de Janeiro also demanded “comprehensive” cease-fires in Gaza on Monday.

Declaring in a statement “deep concern about the catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza as well as concern over the “escalation in Lebanon,” the leaders urged a truce allowing “citizens to return safely to their homes” in northern Israel and southern Lebanon.