Netanyahu Offers $5M to Anyone Who Frees a Hostage

Israeli PM says safe passage out of Gaza will also be offered
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 20, 2024 2:30 AM CST
Netanyahu Offers $5M to Anyone Who Frees a Hostage
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. Monday Nov. 18, 2024.   (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday offered $5 million to anyone who returns an Israeli hostage taken by Hamas, and promised to also grant the person safe passage out of Gaza, the New York Times reports. The offer was an increase on the "several million" he's previously promised, the Times of Israel reports. "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," the PM said during a visit to troops in Gaza. "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 said Israel continues to do all it can to locate the hostages who remain in Gaza. About 100 have not yet been returned, but about a third of those are believed to have died, Al Jazeera reports. Netanyahu also seemed to push aside calls for a ceasefire as he continued to insist Hamas would be eradicated. "We are destroying its military capabilities in a very impressive manner, and we are moving on to its ruling capabilities," the PM said. "Hamas will not be in Gaza." (The former CEO of SodaStream also offered a reward.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X