Netanyahu donates $5 million to Palestinians for all Israeli hostages they help free

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday took steps to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, offering a $5 million reward per prisoner to any Palestinian who helps secure their freedom.

Netanyahu made the announcement during a trip to Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor, which separates northern Gaza from Gaza City from the rest of the Strip, where fierce fighting has raged for more than a year as Israel looks to eliminate Hamas.

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“To those who want to leave this delay I say: Whoever brings us a hostage, he will find a safe way for himself and his family,” said the prime minister, speaking to the Minister of Defense Israel Katz, reported the Israeli news agency TPS. “We will also offer $5 million to all hostages. Choose, the choice is yours, but the result will be the same.

“We will bring them all back,” Netanyahu said.

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach Netanyahu’s office or the White House for comment on the ongoing efforts to return the hostages.

The Hostage Family Forum also told Fox News Digital that it had no comment at the time of this report.

There are still 101 hostages believed to be held by Hamas out of the 251 people abducted during the October 7, 2023 attack, including seven Americans.

These are American hostages taken by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023. (Fox News Photo)

At least 33 hostages still held by the terrorists are believed to have been killed. Their bodies continue to be held by Hamas as bargaining chips, including three Americans.

Ruby Chen, the father of one of the American hostages, Itay Chen, who was ambushed near the border while serving in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on October 7, said he “doubts” Netanyahu’s bounty program will succeed.

“I think [Netanyahu’s] The plan is a smokescreen and it’s smart but it’s not strategic,” Chen said.

Itay’s father said Netanyahu is driving the latest announcement by refusing to elaborate on what Israel will not do, such as withdrawing from Gaza, and instead “states what he is willing to give to get all the hostages” rather than a small number of hostages at a time. ceasefire.

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Netanyahu, who also met with Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the IDF chief of staff, vowed that Hamas would not be able to return to power in Gaza.

“Hamas will not rule in Gaza,” Netanyahu said. “We’re effectively eliminating its military power. We’re moving forward on its administrative power, and we’re not done yet. Hamas will not be in Gaza.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu meets with IDF commanders in Gaza, Nov. 19, 2024. (Photo courtesy of TPS)

The prime minister championed the success of the IDF forces in the fight against the terrorist group and, together with his defense minister, spoke to the commanders of the IDF reserve brigade in the Gaza Strip about the ongoing challenges and the work being done.

The IDF in September assessed that Hamas has been largely defeated and that the remnants of the terrorist group continue to operate in combat-based operations that will take time to dismantle.

Israel has not specified a timeline for when it will end military operations in Gaza and peace talks earlier this year appeared to have stalled as intractable disagreements over security lines in the Strip.

Palestinians flee amid an Israeli military operation, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, Oct. 22, 2024. (Reuters/Dawoud Abu Alkas)

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It is unclear what peace talks are today between Israel and Hamas.

The US, which represents Israel, has been working closely with Qatar and Egypt, which represents Hamas, for weeks in an effort to end the brutal fighting that has reportedly killed some 43,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. , more than half of whom are reported to be women and children. However, these statistics do not provide information on the number of terrorist deaths.

Earlier this month, Qatar said it would no longer be able to participate in mediation efforts due to the lack of willingness on the part of both Hamas and Israel to engage in sincere efforts to end the deadly conflict.