In light of the increasingly grim prospects for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, some Israeli entrepreneurs are seeking innovative methods to secure the release of hostages. Among them is Daniel Birnbaum, the former CEO of SodaStream, who recently announced a bounty of $100,000 for anyone who can rescue one Israeli hostage from Gaza. Birnbaum mentioned that since making this announcement on social media platform X, he has received around 100 calls.
“This offer is valid until midnight on the 23rd,” Birnbaum shared. “While most of the calls have been prank threats or curses, I did receive about 10 to 20 credible leads, which I have forwarded to Israeli authorities for further verification.”
After hearing about Birnbaum’s initiative, American-Israeli real estate mogul David Hager also jumped in to raise funds. On the 20th, he spoke to Channel 12 in Israel, disclosing that he had secured approximately $400,000 with the help of friends and urged other entrepreneurs to contribute to reach a total of $10 million.
In a broader context, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is launching a new study on the war’s socio-economic impact. Chitose Noguchi, the Deputy Special Representative of the UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People, stated at the war site in Deir Al-Balah, “The Palestinian nation is experiencing an unprecedented decline.” She warned that Gaza’s development is expected to regress by 70 years, back to the level of 1955. Palestinian officials estimate that the war has claimed the lives of over 42,500 individuals in Gaza.
The UNDP’s report highlights that, following months of conflict in Gaza, poverty rates in Palestinian territories have nearly doubled to 74.3%. Achim Steiner, the head of UNDP, commented, “The immediate consequences of the war are enormous—not only in terms of the physical infrastructure destroyed but also in poverty, livelihoods, and loss of income.”
By the end of 2023, the poverty rate in the Palestinian territories was 38.8%. However, this year, an additional 2.61 million Palestinians fell into poverty, bringing the total to 4.1 million, causing the poverty rate to nearly double. Steiner remarked, “It is clear from the socio-economic assessment that the extent of destruction has set back Palestinian development by years—if not decades.”
The report estimates that by the end of this year, the unemployment rate in Palestinian territories could soar to 49.9%, with the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dropping by 35.1% compared to conditions without conflict. Steiner expressed concern that even with annual humanitarian aid, the Palestinian economy may not recover to pre-crisis levels for a decade or longer.
Additionally, the study points out that Israeli bombing campaigns have generated 42 million tons of debris in Gaza, resulting in severe health risks for the population.
