NAZARETH, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), A video clip published by the extremist Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked widespread anger, after he expressed in it his “longing” to carry out execution sentences against Palestinian prisoners, in a scene that renewed focus on the escalation of inciting rhetoric within the Israeli government.
Ben Gvir published the video via his account on the “X” platform, in the context of denying rumors that spoke about his death, where he appeared with gallows hanging behind him, before responding to those who asked him about those reports by saying, “I am dead with longing to execute the saboteurs, the death penalty for the saboteurs.”
The clip quickly spread widely across social media platforms, provoking angry reactions and questions about the implications of this rhetoric, amid increasing calls within Israel to tighten measures against Palestinian prisoners.
For its part, Hamas considered that what was mentioned in the video represents “public incitement to killing,” indicating that Ben Gvir’s appearance next to the gallows and his expression of desire to carry out executions reflects an “extremist mentality” that governs the Israeli policies.
The Movement said, in a statement on Thursday, that these remarks come in the context of ongoing attempts to impose the death penalty against Palestinian prisoners, warning of turning prisons into “arenas of physical liquidation,” in violation of international laws and conventions.
It added that the call to kill prisoners reveals the “extent of hatred and racism,” and confirms that the Israeli government adopts a “fascist extremist” rhetoric that threatens the lives of thousands of prisoners, and places them in direct danger.
The Movement warned of the repercussions of these remarks, holding Israel fully responsible for any harm to the lives of the prisoners, and affirming that these policies “will not pass without a response.”
It also called for urgent international action to hold Israeli leaders accountable, escalate solidarity campaigns with prisoners, and apply pressure to stop what it described as continuous incitement and to protect detainees from policies of killing.
