Israeli military 'reaches out' to Gazans, offers reward for tip-offs on hostages

The Israeli Defence Force has said that as part of the extensive efforts to free the Israeli and foreign national hostages held by the Hamas in Gaza, it used multiple channels to communicate with the residents of Gaza and ask for information about the hostages, offering protection and compensation in return.

In a statement, the IDF said: "If your will is to live in peace and to have a better future for your children, do the humanitarian deed immediately and share verified and valuable information about hostages being held in your area. The Israeli military assures you that it will invest maximum effort in providing security for you and your home, and you will receive a financial reward. We guarantee you complete confidentiality."

The IDF has confirmed that 222 hostages are being held by Hamas.