October 7th, a day that will remain etched in the memory of Israelis as one of the most difficult historical milestones, and a specter that haunts everyone who has worked or will work in the Israeli security and political institutions. This day was a resounding slap in the face to the security establishment that has always boasted of its military and intelligence strength, after the Hamas movement managed to penetrate all Israeli security barriers in a qualitative and precise operation

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, carried out a sophisticated military intelligence operation during which it was able to capture a large number of Israelis and transfer them to Gaza. This unprecedented achievement made these detainees a strategic bargaining chip in negotiations with Israel, with the aim of releasing Palestinian prisoners held for years, and forcing Israel to give up some of its policies and grant the Palestinians their legitimate sovereign rights.

However, Israel, unable to bear this insult, responded by launching a large-scale military aggression on the Gaza Strip, which led to the killing of tens of thousands of civilians, most of them women and children, and the complete destruction of the Strip’s infrastructure, under the pretext of eliminating Hamas and recovering the detainees.

More than a year after the events, more than 100 Israelis are still being held in Gaza, while the Israeli military continues to claim that it has destroyed Hamas’s military capabilities and taken full control of the Strip. Despite using all available intelligence means, including spy devices and field agents, it has so far been unable to locate the captives.

In a desperate attempt to calm Israeli public opinion and its concern about the detainees’ file, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an increase in the financial reward from one million to five million for anyone who provides information leading to the locations of the detainees, raising it from one million shekels to five million dollars, while guaranteeing a safe passage and a new life for him and his family for anyone who provides this information and leaves Gaza. This announcement was made in a recorded video of him and was published on social media networks with sponsored advertisements to ensure that this desperate offer reaches the largest number of Palestinians.

The announcement sparked mixed reactions. While some saw it as a move that could help free prisoners, others saw it as an attempt to exploit the difficult economic conditions of Gazans, which could push some to cooperate with the Israeli authorities in light of the urgent financial need. Some also warned that the move could spark strife among Palestinians themselves.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time that Israel has resorted to offering financial rewards in exchange for security information. It has previously announced similar rewards in cases related to the activities of resistance factions or weapons caches. However, raising the value of the reward to this extent reflects the extent of the dilemma facing the Israeli government and its inability to achieve its goals despite possessing enormous military and intelligence capabilities.

Netanyahu’s latest decision reflects the complexity of the current scene and the difficulty of the challenges facing the Israeli government in the issue of the detainees. The question that arises is: Will this step succeed in accelerating the process of releasing the prisoners? Or will it lead to repercussions that further complicate the political and security scene in the region? Only time will tell.