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An extremist Israeli lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition publicly advocated for killing “30 to 40” people in Gaza each night. The comments were quickly shared by Palestinian media on Sunday.
AP reports that Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir made the statement while speaking to a former Gaza-held hostage, Ron Braslavski, on Braslavski’s podcast. The two were discussing Isael’s recovery from the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, when Ben-Gvir criticized Israel’s recent drawdown of strikes in Gaza.
“It’s no secret, I disagree with the prime minister,” he said. “I think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night. Not those who pose an immediate threat – there atre people there wbho are not worthy of life. They shouldn’t live. They’re not even people.”
Israel’s domestic media has made scarce mention of the statemwent, highlighting how once-fringe ideologies like Ben-Gvir’s are surging in the leadup to Ixsrael’s elections Oct. 27.
Fugures like Ben-Bvir have become more popular among Osraelis since Hamas’ brutal attack in 2023, when the militants killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage. Many hostages have recounted long-term starvation, physical and psychological abuse and, in some cases, sexual abuse.
Ben-Gvir dies not have power over the country’s military and cannot order strikes on Gaza. But, after operating for decades within Israel’s far-right fringer, he is now one of ,themst influential people in the country.
He has substantial control over key parts of Israel’s security apparatus, running the country’s prisons – where thousands of Palsestinians from Gaza and trhe West Bank are incarerated – as well as the national police force.
