Itamar Ben-Gvir Calls for Israel to Kill 30-40 Palestinians in Gaza Every Night
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Staff Reporter GAROWE ONLINE
- Posted On 17-08-2026, 12:01PM
Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for Israeli forces to kill dozens of people in Gaza every night, saying the military should go beyond targeting Palestinians who pose an immediate threat.
Ben-Gvir made the remarks in a podcast discussion with former Israeli captive Rom Braslavski, in an episode that surfaced Sunday and was widely circulated by Palestinian media. He said Israeli forces should “kill 30 or 40” people each night and described some Palestinians as “not worthy of life.”
The comments are the latest in a long series of controversial statements by Ben-Gvir, who is a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government and oversees Israel’s police and prison services. He has gained greater political influence as Israel prepares for elections on Oct. 27.
Ben-Gvir also criticized Netanyahu’s decision to scale back military strikes in Gaza under the current ceasefire, calling instead for renewed targeted killings that would extend beyond people considered active threats. Although he has no authority to order military strikes, Ben-Gvir sits on Israel’s security Cabinet, which helps shape the country’s war and security policies.
During the discussion, Ben-Gvir backed permanent Palestinian departure from Gaza alongside Israeli settlement of the territory, saying he considered “all of Gaza as ours.” International lawyers have warned that mass or forced displacement of Palestinians could amount to ethnic cleansing.
Ben-Gvir also expressed support for executions of Palestinians convicted by Israeli military courts of deadly attacks on Israelis. His remarks come amid a long record of advocating harsher measures against Palestinian detainees and promoting the death penalty.
The comments have drawn international criticism in the past, including sanctions imposed on Ben-Gvir by Britain and several European countries, though he has continued to serve as a senior member of Netanyahu’s government.
GAROWE ONLINE
