The family of a former Australian soldier, jailed in Lebanon and facing kidnapping charges, says he cannot afford a $US500,000 offer for them to be dropped.

Adam Whittington was hired by the Nine Network's 60 Minutes program to take part in a child recovery operation.

He and three of his colleagues have been in custody since the botched operation early last month.

His uncle Vince Pisani said while he was no longer sharing a cell with suspected terrorists, conditions remained tough.

"He's gone into another situation where the cells are not much better," he said.

"If he needs to have a bath … and just wash his face and that, he's got to do it over a hole where the toilet is.

"Apparently he can't use too much water because otherwise it floods it and, well, the room is stinking anyhow."

Mr Pisani said the father of the children at the centre of the stoush had offered to drop the charges against his nephew and three colleagues in return for cash.

"The father of the children has come up and said he wants half a million dollars," he said.

"No way can he afford that. They've actually just bought a house over at Sweden and they've got a mortgage. He's not a rich boy. I know that."

Mr Whittington's father David Whittington said his priority remained his son's welfare.

"I think the conditions are inhumane, and even [with] his experience with the army, I think it will wear him down eventually," he said.

He said his son's solicitor Joe Karam had been supplementing his son's prison meals — water and Lebanese bread —with home–cooked food.

Mr Whittington's supporters have criticised the Nine Network and 60 Minutes for only securing their crew's release.

A Nine Network spokeswoman said the network was working with the Lebanese legal system and would not comment on the matter while it was before a judge.