Netanyahu traveled to Gaza and offered $5 million for each hostage released

Israel is ready to pay the Palestinians $5 million for each hostage who will be released from the hands of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this on Nov. 19 while visiting the Netzarim corridor in the Gaza Strip.

"We will give a reward of $5 million for each hostage. The choice is in your hands, but the result will be the same. We will bring everyone home," Netanyahu said, his words quoted by The Times of Israel.

He threatened accountability for anyone who harms the Israeli hostages. The prime minister noted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has made significant gains in Gaza and Hamas will no longer rule the enclave, and its military capabilities are being "impressively" destroyed.

Earlier, on November 15, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recalled that more than 100 people now remain in the captivity of the Palestinian movement, and among them are Russians Alexander Trufanov and Maxim Kharkin. Zakharova emphasized that the capture and long detention of people who are not guilty of anything can not be justified in any way.

The Palestinian radical group Islamic Jihad published a video message by Trufanov on October 13, where he said that the hostages were in danger and difficult situation on a daily basis and called for their release. The man shared that the captives lack food and water, have no electricity and have run out of personal hygiene products.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, when Hamas launched a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip into Israel, as well as invaded border areas in the south and took hostages. That same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes against targets in Gaza.