By Maryam Ahmad
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the killing of between 30 and 40 people in Gaza every night, in remarks made during a podcast interview with former Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski.
Ben-Gvir criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for reducing Israeli military strikes in Gaza and said he supported carrying out targeted assassinations on a nightly basis.
“I think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night,” Ben-Gvir said. He went further, saying that the targets should not be limited to people posing an immediate threat, claiming that some Palestinians were “not worthy of life.”
Ben-Gvir, who leads the far-right Jewish Power party, is a member of Netanyahu’s coalition government but does not have direct command over Israel’s military. His comments nevertheless come from one of the most prominent hardline figures in the Israeli government and have drawn renewed attention to his calls for an intensified military campaign in Gaza.
The minister has also advocated the establishment of Israeli settlements throughout Gaza and the mass departure of Palestinians from the territory. His latest remarks have been widely criticised because of their dehumanising language and explicit advocacy of killing people beyond those posing an immediate military threat.
Israel has rejected accusations that its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide, while statements by senior Israeli officials, including Ben-Gvir, have previously been cited in international legal proceedings concerning allegations of genocidal intent.