Israel offers $5m reward for each Gaza hostage freed

Benjamin Netanyahu announced the reward in Gaza, while in Beirut US special envoy Amos Hochstein said a ceasefire with Hezbollah was 'within our grasp.’

Benjamin Netanyahu meets with commanders of the Israeli Defence Forces. Picture: X.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered a reward of $5 million to anybody who brings out a hostage held in Gaza.

“Anybody who brings out a hostage will find with us a secure way for them and their family to leave” Gaza, Mr Netanyahu said in a video filmed inside the Palestinian territory.

“We will also give them a reward of $5 million for each hostage.”

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. Choose, the choice is yours but the result will be the same. We will bring them all back. pic.twitter.com/XBaEZaYT2T

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) November 19, 2024

Wearing a helmet and a bulletproof jacket, Mr Netanyahu also stressed the militant group would not rule in Gaza after the war, in an apparent rejection of the latest ceasefire efforts.

Speaking in the Netzarim Corridor, Israel’s main military supply route which carves the Gaza Strip in two, Mr Netanyahu said the Israeli military had “achieved excellent results toward our important goal — that Hamas will not rule in Gaza. We are destroying its military capabilities in a very impressive manner, and we are moving on to its ruling capabilities … Hamas will not be in Gaza.”

Reiterating that Jerusalem would not stop trying to release their hostages “living and dead,” he warned: “Anyone who dares to do harm to our hostages is considered dead – we will pursue you and we will catch up with you.”

Meanwhile in Beirut, US special envoy Amos Hochstein said an end to the Israel-Hezbollah war was “now within our grasp” as he met officials to discuss a truce plan largely endorsed by Lebanon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Chief of Staff Major General Herzi Halevi, and Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar visited the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza to assess the ongoing Military Operations against Hamas and to signal the Government's firm stance on the… pic.twitter.com/u3Y15gzcT2

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 19, 2024

The United States and France have spearheaded efforts for a ceasefire, which escalated in late September after nearly a year of deadly exchanges between Hezbollah and Israeli troops.

Israel expanded the focus of its operations from Gaza to Lebanon, vowing to secure its northern border to allow tens of thousands of people displaced by the cross-border fire to return home.

After meeting with Hezbollah-allied parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who has led mediation on behalf of the group, Mr Hochstein told reporters he saw “a real opportunity” to end the fighting.

“I’m here in Beirut to facilitate that decision, but it’s ultimately the decision of the parties … It is now within our grasp.” Mr Berri told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat after the meeting that “the situation is good, in principle”, adding his team and US representatives still had “some technical details” to settle.

Mr Hochstein also met Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and army chief Joseph Aoun.

A Lebanon-based diplomat, requesting anonymity, said “progress” had been made in the talks.

A Lebanese official said Monday that the government had “a very positive view” of the truce plan.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel would continue to conduct military operations against Hezbollah even if a ceasefire was reached.

“We will be forced to ensure our security in the north (of Israel) and to systematically carry out operations against Hezbollah’s attacks … even after a ceasefire”, to keep the group from rebuilding, he told parliament.

AFP