A captured Hamas terrorist told Israeli interrogators the terrorists were promised $10,000 and an apartment for taking hostages, The Jerusalem Post reported Monday.
“[W]hoever brings a hostage back [to Gaza] gets $10,000 and an apartment,” one captured Hamas fighter who stormed Israel on Oct. 7 told his interrogators, the outlet reported. (RELATED: ‘Utterly Morally Repugnant’: Lawyer Lights Into BBC Host For ‘Moral Equivalence’ Between Israel, Hamas)
One of the Hamas terrorists told Israeli forces that “whoever brings a hostage back [to Gaza] gets $10,000 and an apartment.”@Maya_Lee_ZN#Hamas | #Terrorism | #Gazahttps://t.co/h0djeGiXQg
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 23, 2023
Israeli intelligence announced their interrogations resulted in a number of similar themes. While Hamas commanders remained in Gaza, all Hamas agents who breached Israel’s borders Oct. 7 were given instructions to kill and kidnap Israelis, The Jerusalem Post reported.
When it came to killing Israelis, the agents were reportedly told not to distinguish between civilians and soldiers. When the Hamas terrorists were pressed on whether Islam permitted the acts they carried out, they responded, “No. Islam does not permit the killing of women and children,” The Jerusalem Post noted.
Money given to terrorists for violent acts is not a new phenomena in the region. The Palestinian Authority, led by Hamas’ rival Fatah, has a “pay to slay” policy, where money is given to any terrorist (or their families) when they participate in terror attacks against Israelis.
Hamas’ invasion into southern Israel was also fueled by Hamas agents reportedly taking drugs to help enhance their combat performance. Israeli war aims following the invasion are reportedly the ousting of Hamas from power in the Gaza Strip and “the creation of a new security regime” in Gaza.