DayofPal—Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has drawn widespread condemnation after posting a video in which he appears to incite assault against Palestinian detainees.
Filmed inside Ketziot Prison in the Naqab desert, the footage shows several detainees handcuffed and seated on the ground, while Ben Gvir smiles at the camera and declares, “This is how we treat them. The only thing left is to execute them.”
The video comes days after another clip in which the far-right minister boasted about depriving Palestinian prisoners of basic rights, including access to food items, media, and family visits.
In both appearances, Ben Gvir reiterated his push for a bill that would authorize the death penalty for Palestinians accused of killing Israelis.
In the Ketziot footage, Ben Gvir is seen pointing toward a small cell holding three detainees.
“All the Hamas elite members are on the ground, as they should be,” he says. “They get only the minimum, no jam, no chocolate, no TV, no radio. We took everything from here.” He then adds, “But there’s still one thing missing: the death penalty law.”
Ben Gvir has urged the Israeli parliament to approve a bill that permits executing Palestinian detainees. Last month, a Knesset committee approved the bill for a first reading in the general assembly. To become law, it must pass three readings.
The proposal states that anyone who “intentionally or out of indifference causes the death of an Israeli out of hatred or hostility toward Israel” should face execution.
According to Palestinian rights groups, more than 10,000 Palestinians, including women and children, are currently detained by Israel.
Advocacy organizations accuse Israeli authorities of subjecting prisoners to harsh conditions, including torture, starvation, and medical neglect. Several detainees have reportedly died as a result.
Human rights organizations and opposition lawmakers have repeatedly condemned Ben Gvir for escalating punitive measures against prisoners since assuming office in late 2022. His policies have included reducing food portions, limiting access to showers, and banning family visits.
Observers warn that Ben Gvir’s rhetoric and policies reflect a growing erosion of legal safeguards for detainees and could inflame tensions further amid ongoing regional instability.
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