Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a $5 million reward per captive to any Palestinian who helps to secure the release of the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. This announcement was made during Netanyahu’s visit to the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza, where brutal fighting has been ongoing as Israel seeks to eradicate Hamas. There are still 101 hostages believed to be held by Hamas out of the 251 people abducted during attacks in October 2023, including seven Americans. At least 33 of the hostages are believed to have been killed, with their bodies still held by Hamas as bargaining chips.
Despite Netanyahu’s announcement, some family members of the American hostages doubt the effectiveness of this reward system. Ruby Chen, the father of one of the American hostages, expressed skepticism about the initiative, calling it a tactical move rather than a strategic solution. Netanyahu’s refusal to detail what Israel will not do, such as leaving Gaza, and instead offering rewards for bringing back all hostages is seen as a maneuver by the prime minister. It remains to be seen how successful this reward system will be in securing the release of the hostages still held by Hamas.
Netanyahu reiterated his vow that Hamas will never be able to return to power in Gaza, stating that the group’s military capabilities were being eliminated. The Israeli Defense Forces had reportedly largely defeated Hamas, with the remnants of the terrorist group continuing to operate through guerrilla combat activities that will take time to dismantle. Despite ongoing challenges and operational activities, Israel has not provided a timeline for when it will end its military operations in Gaza. Peace talks between Israel and Hamas earlier in the year had reached a standstill over disagreements surrounding security corridors in the Strip.
The U.S., representing Israel, had been working closely with Qatar and Egypt, representing Hamas, to end the brutal fighting in Gaza which has reportedly resulted in a significant number of casualties. Figures from the Hamas-run Health Ministry reported that around 43,000 people had been killed in the conflict, with a majority being women and children. However, the number of terrorist deaths was not specified in these figures. Qatar announced earlier in the month that it could no longer be involved in mediation efforts due to the lack of willingness from both Hamas and Israel to engage in sincere attempts to end the deadly conflict. The current status of peace talks between Israel and Hamas remains unclear.
