{"id":2609,"date":"2026-08-16T14:37:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T14:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2609"},"modified":"2026-08-16T14:37:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T14:37:39","slug":"israels-ben-gvir-advocates-killing-30-to-40-people-in-gaza-nightly-while-speaking-to-ex-hostage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=2609","title":{"rendered":"Israel\u2019s Ben Gvir advocates killing \u201930 to 40′ people in Gaza nightly while speaking to ex-hostage"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

JERUSALEM (AP) \u2014 An extremist Israeli lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s coalition publicly advocated for killing \u201c30 to 40\u201d people in Gaza each night, comments that surfaced Sunday and were quickly shared by Palestinian media.<\/p>\n

Read more Firefighters battle a massive Belgian wildfire, forcing hundreds to evacuate<\/a><\/p>\n

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir<\/span> made the statement while speaking to a former Gaza-held hostage, Rom Braslavski<\/span>, on Braslavski\u2019s podcast. The two were discussing Israel\u2019s recovery from the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, when Ben-Gvir criticized Israel\u2019s recent drawdown of strikes in Gaza.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no secret, I disagree with the prime minister,\u201d he said. \u201cI think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night. Not just those who pose an immediate threat \u2014 there are people there who are not worthy of life. They shouldn\u2019t live. They\u2019re not even people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

In the past, similar statements by Ben-Gvir and other Israeli officials were widely condemned. Many have been presented to the UN\u2019s world court as evidence of genocidal intent<\/span>. Israel denies it has committed genocide in Gaza.<\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s domestic media has made scarce mention of the statement, highlighting how once-fringe ideologies like Ben-Gvir\u2019s are surging in the leadup to Israeli elections Oct. 27. <\/p>\n

Figures like Ben-Gvir have become more popular among Israelis since Hamas\u2019 brutal attack in 2023, when the militants killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage. Many hostages have recounted long-term starvation<\/span>, physical and psychological abuse and, in some cases, sexual abuse<\/span>. <\/p>\n

Ben-Gvir oversees Israel\u2019s police force and prisons<\/h2>\n

Ben-Gvir does not have power over the country\u2019s military and cannot order strikes on Gaza. But, after operating for decades within Israel\u2019s far-right fringe, he is now one of the most influential people in the country. <\/p>\n

He has substantial control over key parts of Israel\u2019s security apparatus, running the country\u2019s prisons \u2014 where thousands of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank are incarcerated \u2014 as well as the national police force.<\/p>\n

He has previously boasted of lessening food rations for Palestinian prisoners. Israel\u2019s top court ruled in 2025 that the prison service under Ben-Gvir was depriving Palestinians of a minimum subsistence diet.<\/p>\n

Read more US top Middle East commander visits deployed aircraft carrier, and other Mideast news<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Ben-Gvir criticizes drawdown of Israeli strikes in Gaza<\/h2>\n

Until recently, Israel was striking Gaza nearly every day, attacks that have killed over 1,250 people since an October truce deal came into effect, according to Gaza\u2019s Health Ministry. <\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s military, which says the strikes have targeted Hamas militants, appeared to ease off on the attacks in a quiet concession to U.S. President Donald Trump after Netanyahu rejected the president\u2019s latest attempt to move the truce forward.<\/p>\n

Israeli media last week reported that the authority for carrying out strikes has now been limited to the army\u2019s chief of staff, raising the ire of right-wing lawmakers such as Ben-Gvir. <\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Ben Gvir advocates mass emigration, expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza<\/h2>\n

In the same taped appearance, the lawmaker advocated for mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza \u2014 a proposal that international lawyers say could amount to ethnic cleansing \u2014 and resettlement of Gaza by Israel.<\/p>\n

Twenty years ago, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, dismantling a block of 21 Jewish settlements known as \u201cGush Katif\u201d and pulling out its forces.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n
\nSign up for Morning Wire:<\/strong>
\n Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day.\n <\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n
\n