Tel Aviv, Oct 24 (IANS): Hamas was offering $10,000 in cash and an apartment to its militants for bringing a hostage to Gaza, an Israeli security agency has said, citing the revelations made during interrogation by arrested militants of Hamas' Nukhba force.

Israeli security agency Shin Bet and the Police in a joint statement on Monday shared "startling revelations" made by the arrested militants during interrogation.

The militants were instructed to target as many people as possible and to take control of the area. Kidnapping children and elderly women was their priority, the investigators said.

Militants told agencies that they were given clear and explicit instructions to kill and kidnap civilians including the elderly and children.

According to the Shin Bet, the arrested militants also provided valuable information on the modus operandi of the attack on the fateful day as well as in future.

The statement said that while the men were sent into Israeli territory for killings, the leaders of Hamas were sitting in safe hideouts in Gaza.