Benjamin Netanyahu has offered $5 million and safe passage out of Gaza to any resident who hands over an Israeli hostage.

Speaking to troops inside central Gaza, the Israeli prime minister also pledged that anyone who harmed a hostage would “pay the price”.

His speech followed a growing public outcry over the welfare of the remaining captives as winter nears.

Mr Netanyahu had earlier this month offered Hamas $1 million for each freed hostage as well as amnesty for their captors – a deal the Palestinian terror group did not appear to respond to.

Hamas took 251 hostages during the Oct 7 terror attacks on southern Israel last year. Of these, 97 hostages remain in Gaza, 60 of whom are believed to be alive.