Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he would give $5 million and safe passage out of Gaza to anyone who returns a hostage.
Netanyahu gave the offer while speaking at the Netzarim Corridor in central Gaza. He was joined by his DefenseMinister, Israel Katz.
“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,” Netanyahu said.
“Choose. The choice is yours, but the result will be the same. We will bring them all back.”
But while Netanyahu offered the cash reward for those who returned hostages, he added that those who harmed hostages would “pay the price.”
The offering comes as some have alleged Netanyahu is deliberately stalling negotiations for a hostage deal, saying he wants the war to continue so he can stay in power. Netanyahu has outright denied these claims.
Netanyahu has said that Israel is doing everything it can “to locate our hostages, and return them. We are not letting up. We will continue to do so until we get them all — both the living and the dead.”
When Hamas launched its attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, it killed more than 1,200 people and took over 250 hostages. Of those who have been abducted, 97 are still being held in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 who were confirmed dead by the Israeli military.