The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday (October 24) used multiple channels to communicate with the residents of Gaza and ask for information about the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas, offering protection and compensation in return.

The IDF dropped thousands of leaflets from aircraft over the Gaza strip as well as posted messages on a variety of military and government social media accounts.

"If you want a better future for yourself and your children, do the right thing and send us verified and useful information about hostages in your area," said the Arabic message on the leaflet.

"The Israeli army promises to do everything to preserve your security and that of your homes, and you will receive a financial reward," the leaflet added. "We guarantee you total discretion."

The document asks interested individuals to use secure phone line *8619 or Whatsapp, Telegram, Signal: +972503957992.

The IDF confirmed the launch of the effort "as part of the extensive efforts to free the Israeli and foreign national hostages held by the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza."

Trying to ensure safe passage

Israel declared war on Hamas after the militant group's fighters broke through the heavily fortified border and killed more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, and took dozens of hostages, including Israelis, dual nationals and foreigners.

In retaliatory strikes, thousands of people have been killed in Gaza.

Shortly after bringing security on the ground under control in Israel, the IDF ordered 1.1 million Palestinians in the north of the Gaza strip -- nearly half of its 2.4-million population -- to evacuate and head south to safety.

"Civilians of Gaza City, evacuate south for your own safety and the safety of your families and distance yourself from Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields," the IDF said on X (formerly Twitter) on October 13. "In the following days, the IDF will continue to operate significantly in Gaza City and make extensive efforts to avoid harming civilians."

Israel has been using a number of methods to communicate with the people of Gaza, including television, leaflets, and radio and phone messages.

"The world needs to know: we are at war with Hamas, NOT the people of Gaza," the IDF said on X.

As the days go by and the evacuation continues, the IDF has stated it wants north Gaza to be "as clean as possible of civilians" before any military ground invasion occurs, and that point has not yet been reached, according to IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus.

Hamas has been hampering the evacuation of civilians ever since the order came down, with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh urging Palestinians on October 14 to reject the evacuation order and stay in their homes.