Israel Offers $5 Million Reward for Information on Each Hostage

Israeli media report that official channels have been announced for providing information about any Israeli hostage in exchange for a $5 million reward and a guarantee of safety. This comes as Khalil al-Hayya, a senior figure in the extremist group Hamas, stated that there will be no deal regarding hostages until the end of the Gaza war and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area. Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union, kidnapped 251 Israelis during the attack last October and still holds 101 of them. The Israeli government introduced channels on social media and an official website on November 30 for any information, even minor, related to the Israeli hostages in Gaza. On November 29, the Israeli Prime Minister announced during a visit to Israeli forces in the Netzarim area of Gaza that any Palestinian in the region who facilitates the release of an Israeli hostage will receive a $5 million cash reward. Benjamin Netanyahu warned that those who harm our kidnapped citizens will have their blood on their own hands. He added that anyone who delivers one of our people will not only receive the $5 million but will also be granted personal safety for themselves and their families. Israeli media previously reported that Palestinians who hand over hostages would be transferred to a safe country for living to protect them from Hamas forces in Gaza. Given the dire financial situation in Gaza and the economic collapse in the area following the death of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, Israel hopes to bring its kidnapped citizens home through financial incentives. More than 130 Israeli hostages and several foreign hostages were released about two months after the start of the Gaza war as part of a deal that involved Israel establishing a ceasefire for a few days and releasing hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners. It is estimated that more than half of the 101 Israeli hostages in Gaza are alive, including several young girls, a mother and her two children, and several elderly men. The Netanyahu government is under pressure from public opinion to bring these Israeli citizens back. In recent days, mothers of the hostages have engaged in a new protest action, sitting silently in white clothing near the workplace and residence of Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. On the other hand, Khalil al-Hayya stated on Wednesday night that there will be no deal regarding hostages until the complete end of the Gaza war and the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from the area. According to Reuters, Khalil al-Hayya, in an interview with Hamas's Al-Aqsa TV, said, 'If the aggression does not end, why should the resistance, especially Hamas, release the prisoners (hostages)?' He added, 'A wise person or even a madman does not lose their strong card while the war continues.' Khalil al-Hayya is mentioned as a key figure to take over the leadership of Hamas after nearly all of the group's leaders have been killed. U.S. President Joe Biden this week urged G20 leaders to pressure Hamas to accept a hostage release deal. China and Russia, which are part of the G20, maintain close relations with Hamas, unlike the U.S. and the West.