Key facts
- Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir advocated for killing "30 to 40" people in Gaza each night.
- Ben-Gvir stated that some individuals in Gaza are "not worthy of life" and "shouldn’t live."
- He also proposed mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and resettlement by Israelis.
- Ben-Gvir's comments surfaced on a podcast with a former Gaza hostage.
- Past statements by Ben-Gvir have been used as evidence of genocidal intent at the UN's world court.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly advocated for the killing of "30 to 40" people in Gaza each night, stating that some individuals are "not worthy of life" and "shouldn’t live."
Ben-Gvir made these remarks while speaking with Rom Braslavski, a former hostage held in Gaza, on Braslavski's podcast. The discussion touched upon Israel's recovery from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, with Ben-Gvir expressing disagreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to strikes in Gaza.
He also proposed the mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza, suggesting their resettlement by Israelis. Ben-Gvir stated, "I see all of Gaza as ours... Settlements not just in Gush Katif but throughout Gaza, encouraging as much emigration as possible, sending them to their countries, and for the terrorists, no emigration, nothing, just to kill them one by one."
In the past, similar statements from Ben-Gvir and other Israeli officials have drawn widespread condemnation and have been presented to the UN's world court as evidence of genocidal intent, though Israel denies committing genocide in Gaza.
Ben-Gvir oversees Israel's police force and prisons, which hold thousands of Palestinians, but does not have authority over the military. Despite his limited direct power over military operations, his influence has grown significantly. He has previously boasted about reducing food rations for Palestinian prisoners, a practice that Israel's top court ruled against in 2025.
Israeli media has largely downplayed Ben-Gvir's recent statements, reflecting a trend where once-fringe ideologies are gaining prominence in the lead-up to Israeli elections on October 27. His popularity has increased since the Hamas attacks in 2023.
Recent reports indicate that the authority for carrying out strikes in Gaza has been limited to the army's chief of staff, a move that has angered right-wing lawmakers like Ben-Gvir. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a ceasefire deal involving Hamas gradually relinquishing weapons while Israeli forces withdraw, a proposal Hamas has accepted with conditions related to the creation of a Palestinian state, a condition Israel's government rejects.