Key facts
- Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video threatening to kill senior Hamas figure Hassan Salameh.
- Ben Gvir stated he wants to "execute" Salameh.
- Ben Gvir said he would ensure detainees like Salameh are "put to death" if he were defense minister.
- Ben Gvir also said he would advance policies to drive Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir posted a video on September 27, 2026, showing him threatening to kill senior Hamas figure Hassan Salameh. In the footage, Ben Gvir is seen surrounded by security personnel as he tells Salameh, a Palestinian prisoner, that he wants to "execute" him. Ben Gvir captioned the video, stating that if he were appointed defense minister, he would ensure detainees like Salameh are "put to death." He also indicated he would advance immigration policies aimed at expelling Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The minister referenced a past bombing on bus line 18 in Jerusalem as a motivation for his stance.