The recent actions of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have sparked significant outrage among Palestinians and observers alike. His provocative behavior, including threatening to kill high-profile Palestinian prisoners, not only highlights the ongoing tensions but also raises critical questions about the treatment of detainees in Israeli custody. This incident reflects broader issues of power dynamics and the urgent need for dialogue in the region.
The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs has sharply criticized Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir following his release of a video on social media in which he threatens jailed Hamas figure Hassan Salama. Ben-Gvir’s remarks in the footage, made while he was inside Salama’s prison cell, include a direct threat to execute the long-imprisoned figure. Raed Abu al-Hummus, head of the Palestinian Authority agency, stated that the footage reveals an alarming depth of degradation and depravity within the Israeli political sphere.
Salama, who has been incarcerated for thirty years, is currently serving multiple life sentences for his involvement in a series of attacks orchestrated by Hamas in 1996, including bus bombings. Ben-Gvir recorded the video two weeks prior, where he stated, “I want to kill you… I want you executed,” while flanked by Israeli security forces.
The Palestinian Prisoners Media Office condemned Ben-Gvir’s actions, labeling them as a “cheap political and electoral stunt” aimed at influencing the upcoming elections on October 27. They called it a cowardly act of bullying against a defenseless prisoner and emphasized that the Israeli authorities bear full responsibility for Salama’s safety. Hamas, too, weighed in, asserting that Ben-Gvir’s threats denote a troubling signal of new crimes against Palestinian detainees while reaffirming their commitment to advocating for their release.
This video is part of a pattern of behavior from Ben-Gvir, who has a history of inflammatory rhetoric and hardline policies regarding Palestinian detainees. His approach raises alarms about the conditions faced by these individuals. In August, he shared another video in which he boasted about the inadequate living conditions of Palestinian women in prison. Last year, he was also filmed taunting prominent Palestinian leaders like Marwan Barghouti in their cells.
Further complicating the situation, Israel’s Knesset passed legislation in March allowing the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners under certain conditions. This contentious measure, strongly endorsed by Ben-Gvir and his party, Jewish Power, does not extend the same penalties to Jewish Israelis, drawing widespread condemnation and protests from multiple countries.
In addition to his threats against prisoners, Ben-Gvir has made controversial calls for the “emigration” of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank. In July, he introduced a seven-year initiative dubbed “Disengagement 710,” which he argues would facilitate the “voluntary emigration” of Palestinian residents from Gaza. Additionally, he has announced intentions to create a migration ministry focused on expelling Palestinians if he is re-elected.
Ben-Gvir has also supported plans to expand Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories, actions that have drawn international scrutiny and condemnation from both European and Arab leaders. This year, he authorized the issuance of gun licenses to residents in 18 additional settlements in areas deemed illegal under international law.
As these developments unfold, they shed light on the complexity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the continuous struggle for justice and dignity among those affected.
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