JERUSALEM: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel was offering a reward of $5 million to anybody who brings out a prisoner held in Gaza.

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

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

Netanyahu added “Anyone who dares to harm our hostages will have blood on their head. We will hunt you down and get you”. “Choose, the choice is yours, but the result will be the same. We’ll get them all back.”

Netanyahu also alleged during a visit to Gaza on Tuesday that Hamas would not rule the Palestinian enclave after the conflict had ended and that Israel had destroyed the group’s military capabilities.

The comments were made in a video recording by Netanyahu during his visit to Gaza with Israel’s defence minister and the head of its army, where he also received a briefing on operational activities.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2024