Interview with Daniel Birnbaum, Former CEO of SodaStream
As the prospects for a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza conflict appear increasingly bleak, some Israeli entrepreneurs are exploring unconventional methods to secure the release of hostages. One such initiative comes from Daniel Birnbaum, the former CEO of SodaStream, who recently announced a significant bounty.
Birnbaum stated, “Since I announced on social media that anyone who can rescue a living Israeli hostage from Gaza would be granted $100,000 in cash or Bitcoin, I’ve received approximately 100 calls.” He mentioned that the announcement, made on platform X, has attracted widespread attention.
When asked about the nature of the calls, he clarified, “Most of the calls were either pranks, threats, or insults. However, around 10 to 20 of them were credible leads, which I have forwarded to Israeli authorities for further verification.” His offer is set to remain active until midnight on the 23rd.
Following Birnbaum’s initiative, American real estate mogul David Hager has also stepped in to raise funds for the cause. In a conversation with Channel 12, Hager revealed, “With the help of friends, I’ve managed to gather about $400,000 and I’m calling on other entrepreneurs to contribute so we can reach a total of $10 million.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has released a report detailing the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on the Palestinian economy. Chitose Noguchi, Deputy Special Representative of the UNDP’s Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People, remarked, “The Palestinian nation is facing unprecedented decline. Development in Gaza is expected to regress by 70 years, returning to the state it was in during the 1950s.” The report indicated that the war has claimed over 42,500 lives in Gaza.
The UNDP’s findings reveal that the poverty rate in Palestinian territories has nearly doubled this year, reaching 74.3%. Achim Steiner, the Administrator of UNDP, stated, “The immediate consequences of war are immense, manifesting not just in the destruction of tangible infrastructure, but also in issues of poverty, livelihoods, and loss of means of subsistence.”
By the end of 2023, the poverty rate was recorded at 38.8%. However, this year, an additional 2.61 million Palestinians have fallen into poverty, bringing the total to 4.1 million, effectively doubling the poverty rate. Steiner added, “The socio-economic assessment clearly shows that the extent of destruction has set back Palestine’s development by years, or even decades.”
The report further estimates that unemployment in the Palestinian territories could soar to 49.9% this year, with GDP experiencing a 35.1% decline compared to pre-war conditions in Gaza. Steiner concluded, “Even with annual humanitarian assistance, it will take a decade or more for the Palestinian economy to recover to pre-crisis levels.” Additionally, the bombing campaigns have generated around 42 million tons of rubble in Gaza, posing severe health risks to residents.
