• Israfan
  • Posts
  • Sodastream’s Former CEO Offers $100,000 for Safe Return of Hostages from Gaza

Sodastream’s Former CEO Offers $100,000 for Safe Return of Hostages from Gaza

Daniel Birnbaum promises financial reward for Gazan civilians who aid in the release of Israeli hostages.

October 23, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

With 101 Israeli hostages still held in Gaza, former Sodastream CEO Daniel Birnbaum has made a bold offer: a $100,000 reward to any Gaza resident who safely returns a captive. In a widely circulated video, Birnbaum, speaking in English with Arabic subtitles, appealed directly to Gazans, urging them to seize the opportunity for both freedom and financial gain.

“This is a message for the good people in Gaza I have an offer for you,” Birnbaum said. “This year was a terrible year; it’s time to wrap things up. It’s time to move on.”

Birnbaum’s offer adds to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s earlier promise of free passage and immunity for any Palestinian delivering an Israeli hostage to Israeli authorities. The former CEO hopes his cash incentive will inspire civilians to act. “I would like to add to that a financial reward anyone who delivers from Gaza a living Israeli prisoner (hostage) will receive $100,000,” Birnbaum stated, adding that the reward can be paid in cash or Bitcoin.

The offer is open until October 24th, with Birnbaum providing contact details for confidential communication via Telegram or WhatsApp. “It’s time for you to take control of your life, to build a future for yourself, for your family, and for your community,” he concluded, emphasizing the potential for Gazans to step away from violence and create a better future.

The offer comes as stories emerge from released hostages describing how ordinary Gazan civilians, including journalists and doctors, have been involved in guarding hostages. For example, Israeli hostage Noa Argamani, who was freed by an undercover Israeli operation in Nuseirat, was found in the home of Al Jazeera photojournalist Abdallah Aljamal, highlighting the involvement of Gazan civilians in the ongoing conflict.

Birnbaum’s reward proposal, while unconventional, reflects a growing desperation to bring remaining hostages home safely amid a conflict that continues to claim lives on both sides.

Share this story or subscribe to our newsletter for ongoing updates on the Israeli hostages and the situation in Gaza.