The disunity and ongoing torment that Netanyahu’s offer of $5,000,000 will cause the already beleaguered Gazans and Hamas operatives has been rightly described as a “genius” offer. It adds a dimension of psychological warfare and encourages a thinking process that separates the jihadist captor from the zealousness of “martyrdom.” Why live under the hellishness of crushing defeat and imminent death in Gaza when there is a handsome escape offer, with family included? Allegiance to the “resistance” from the River to the Sea in the name of Islam?
The $5 million dollar plan extends to “anyone who is currently holding any of the 101 Israeli hostages.”
Yet should any Hamas operative or captor choose to take Netanyahu’s offer, it will indeed amount to selling out “their principles” and thus “allow the Jews to dictate Shari’a.” This would be a humiliation to Hamas and to Islam. It would also render the one who accepts the offer a traitor. Hamas has vowed that it won’t agree to any deal “short of a complete cessation of the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.” In the event of the latter, Hamas will be allowed to regroup.
Hamas (that is, the Islamic Resistance Movement) is being closely watched on all sides — from the Muslim Brotherhood to the supporters of Israel.
“Netanyahu offering hostages’ captors millions of dollars, safe passage from Gaza,” Times of Israel, November 5, 2024:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is prepared to offer captors of hostages in Gaza “several million dollars” for the release of each hostage, an Israeli official confirmed on Tuesday, as Israel’s offensive in northern Gaza continued alongside efforts to meet the humanitarian needs of the enclave’s civilians.
The prime minister is prepared to guarantee “safe passage” out of Gaza for captors and their families who release hostages, the official said, responding to a Channel 12 report about the monetary reward….
“$5 million of pure genius,” by Anjuli Pandavar, Israel National News, November 6, 2024:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be planning to offer anyone who is currently holding any of the 101 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza five million dollars for each hostage they release. Officials are supposedly working on publishing the official offer on various platforms in order to convince those holding the hostages to release them, promising that in return they will receive five million dollars for each hostage, as well as freedom of passage for the purpose of exile to a third country. (Arutz7)
There are several dimensions to this offer that are unlikely to be discussed in the public domain.
1. The first pertains to securing the freedom of the people held captive for over a year. Ordinarily, I would agree with those who say that paying for hostages encourages the taking of hostages, except that the people held by Hamas are not necessarily hostages. They are, according to Islam, which is the way Hamas sees them, the spoils of war—a chapter in the Qur’an even bears that title—and their captors may do any of the following with them (Muslim apologists will claim that only the caliph may decide which):…
ElderlyZionist says
Gazans had a modest degree of prosperity on October 6, 2023. Hamas had a de facto state. Hamas leaders were skimming billions of dollars from the ‘humanitarian’ aid, the mid-level apparatchiki were building villas and even the rank and file were getting their beaks wet. They knowingly threw all that away in a day, and sacrificed tens of thousands of their people’s lives and their own. They don’t want a million dollar ransom. They want to torture and kill Jews.
Troybeam says
That is a stupid move, should never pay ransom. It should go like this: release hostages in within 6 hours, otherwise will reign HELL EVERYWHERE that we know or suspect you are hiding nothing is off limits.
somehistory says
I’m sorry, but this seems less ‘genius” than a reward for terrorism.
Would it be like the episode of Perry Mason when he was endeavoring to recover a small child from the hands of her communist kidnappers?
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Safe passage from Gaza is fine, but I don’t like him offering them a ransom
Eva says
The only thing any of the scum holding the hostages should get is a bullet.
OLD GUY says
That just might come along with the package of cash.
Jo Alex SG says
I couldn’t agree more, Mr. Spencer! In an ideal world this wouldn’t be advisable but we don’t live in a utopia at all and live is the farthest from politically correct! So, considering all this, his move is undeniably brilliant! I don’t believe it’s either black or white, we have to be utterly political and strategic with the many shades and colors in human and political relations! Kol hakavod, Bibi, you’re a genius!
sporticus says
Five million pieces of silver.
Normally, terrorist kidnappers should not be negotiated with using rewards of money. But this is a one-off special case never to be repeated because after all is done there will never be another “October 7th”.
This unusual offer may act as a probe or radar in lieu a Proof of Life which Hamas is unwilling to provide.
If no one tkes up the offer or if they only offer funeral remains could that mean that none are alive?
When astronomers search for exoplanets they can tell a lot about the planet just from flickers of light and radiation -they are also looking for Proof of Life from from very subtle clues. Deal or no Deal will tell us something about life under planet Gaza.
James Lincoln says
If the terrorist captors take the offer, they would be putting personal financial gain above ideology – which would not sit well with their islamic “leaders”.
If they do not take the offer, they would be putting ideology above personal financial gain – which would make them “broke terrorist dopes” – and future targets of the IDF.
Decisions, decisions…
Gamaliel Isaac says
Give money for hostages and they’ll take more hostages. duh
gravenimage says
Netanyahu offers captors $5,000,000 and safe passage from Gaza if they free hostages
………………………………………
I don’t think that paying ransom is a wise move–but I do understand that Netanyahuy is under enormous pressure–and of course every decent person wants to see the poor hostages released. I’m just concerned that rewarding Muslim kidnappers will just lead to more kidnapping.
Ralph says
I never have had a reason to disagree with Mr. Netanyahu, but the time has come. You do not reward kidnapers with ransom money as they will seize this incentive as the reason to kidnap more victims for ransom. Better he had said “return the hostages unharmed within one week or we will vaporize every one of you”. President Reagan reportedly said much the same to Iran’s Ayatollah during that hostage crisis, with predictable happy results.