Gal Hirsch’s Contract Extended Until 2026 With Significant Salary Increase as Hostage Coordinator

Gal Hirsch, the coordinator for Israeli hostages and missing persons, will continue in his role until the end of 2026 with a substantial raise in his monthly compensation. Hirsch, a retired brigadier general, receives his salary through his company, DJ Agility Concept, which will now pay him 52,000 shekels per month, up from 41,500 shekels a month just a month ago, according to reports by Calcalist.

Although the hostages have returned, the Prime Minister’s Office sought to extend Hirsch’s contract by two months in late March while considering a longer-term arrangement. His contract officially ended on June 7, but a solution was found to keep him employed until the end of 2026. The Prime Minister’s Office procurement committee approved a total contract extension worth 422,000 shekels, covering life insurance, VAT, and reimbursements for official hospitality and international flights related to his duties.

Hirsch’s role is shifting from advising the Hostages and Missing Persons Administration and the Prime Minister’s Office to directly advising the Prime Minister on hostage affairs. This required an exceptional approval from the acting Civil Service Commissioner at the time, Daniel Hershkowitz, who was recently replaced by Doron Cohen. The Prime Minister’s Office justified the salary increase by citing a "significant expansion of tasks," although the job description remains largely consistent with his previous responsibilities, including maintaining contact with families of hostages and missing persons, formulating strategy, and investigating government policy.

Hirsch is also expected to attend international conferences on hostage issues, funded by the state. He cannot be employed as a regular government employee due to an ongoing criminal indictment filed against him in October 2021 for allegedly failing to report 6.1 million shekels in income. His trial is ongoing, and sources close to him indicate he intends to see it through without a plea deal.

The Prime Minister’s Office stated that the continuation of Hirsch’s role is essential to complete the national efforts related to hostages and missing persons, to advance ongoing initiatives, and to prepare based on lessons learned from the events of October 7 and other hostage-related incidents.