Netanyahu Offers $5 Million Reward to Any Palestinians Who Free Israeli Hostages

19 November 2024, Palestinian Territories, -: Israeli Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visits Netzarim Corridor in the Gaza Strip. Photo: Ma'ayan Toaf/GPO/dpa
19 November 2024, Palestinian Territories, -: Israeli Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visits Netzarim Corridor in the Gaza Strip. Photo: Ma'ayan Toaf/GPO/dpa
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Netanyahu Offers $5 Million Reward to Any Palestinians Who Free Israeli Hostages

19 November 2024, Palestinian Territories, -: Israeli Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visits Netzarim Corridor in the Gaza Strip. Photo: Ma'ayan Toaf/GPO/dpa
19 November 2024, Palestinian Territories, -: Israeli Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu visits Netzarim Corridor in the Gaza Strip. Photo: Ma'ayan Toaf/GPO/dpa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered a $5 million reward and one-way ticket out of Gaza to Palestinians who free Israeli hostages held in the territory.

Netanyahu made the offer during a tour of central Gaza on Tuesday.

Israel says Hamas continues to hold 101 hostages, roughly one-third of whom are believed to be dead. Israel has vowed to press ahead with its war, which has devastated Gaza, until all hostages are free.

“I also say to those who want to get out of this maze: Whoever brings us a hostage will find a safe way, he and his family, to get out,” Netanyahu said. “We will also give a reward of $5 million for each hostage.”

Families of the hostages have accused Netanyahu of not doing enough to bring their loved-ones home, and tens of thousands of Israelis regularly take to the streets calling on him to reach a deal.

A former aide to Netanyahu has been arrested on suspicion of leaking classified materials to foreign media over the summer in an apparent effort to scuttle a deal.

Critics accuse Netanyahu of dragging his feet because a deal would likely lead to the collapse of his hardline government and the launch of an official investigation into the government’s failures ahead of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

Netanyahu rejects the criticism and says he is doing his utmost to free them.



WHO Says Polio Mass Vaccination Campaign to Resume in Gaza 

Palestinian families gather at Gaza port to enjoy and watch the sunset, 17 February 2025. (EPA)
Palestinian families gather at Gaza port to enjoy and watch the sunset, 17 February 2025. (EPA)
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WHO Says Polio Mass Vaccination Campaign to Resume in Gaza 

Palestinian families gather at Gaza port to enjoy and watch the sunset, 17 February 2025. (EPA)
Palestinian families gather at Gaza port to enjoy and watch the sunset, 17 February 2025. (EPA)

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that a mass campaign to vaccinate children against polio in Gaza would resume on Saturday, with over half a million children targeted.

"The current environment in Gaza, including overcrowding in shelters and severely damaged water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, which facilitates fecal-oral transmission, create ideal conditions for further spread of poliovirus," the WHO statement said.

"Extensive population movement consequent to the current ceasefire is likely to exacerbate the spread of poliovirus infection," it added.