Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir Demands Escalated Strikes and Mass Displacement in Gaza

Israel's far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has publicly called for the killing of 30 to 40 residents of Gaza each night alongside the mass Palestinian emigration from the war-torn enclave.

Mr Ben-Gvir made these controversial statements to former Israeli hostage ROM Braslavski—who was abducted during the October 7 attacks and held by Hamas in Gaza—during a podcast broadcast on Sunday. The minister also voiced disagreement with Israel’s recent decrease in military strikes against the territory.

“It’s no secret, I disagree with the Prime Minister,” Mr Ben-Gvir stated, addressing the reduction in the scale of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. He was quoted by Israeli media as advocating for targeted assassinations to eliminate 30 to 40 individuals every single night, asserting that certain people in the region should not live.

As a prominent member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and Israel’s security cabinet, Mr Ben-Gvir is well-known for controversial actions, including praying at the Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem and taunting detainees from a Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla in May.

During the podcast, Mr Ben-Gvir additionally promoted encouraging Palestinians to leave Gaza while pushing for Israeli settlements to be established throughout the territory. He suggested sending Palestinians to other countries while maintaining that those he defined as terrorists must be killed rather than permitted to depart.

“I see all of Gaza as ours,” Mr Ben-Gvir remarked, advocating for settlements not only in Gush Katif but across the entire area, alongside maximum emigration efforts and the systematic elimination of terrorists. Gush Katif refers to the Israeli settlement bloc in Gaza that was evacuated back in 2005.

These remarks emerge as Israel moderates its military intensity following a truce agreement last October, and while US President Donald Trump seeks to promote a broader ceasefire strategy. Although Israel’s military continues conducting strikes targeting Hamas militants, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that over 1,250 people have been killed since the ceasefire took effect. Mr Ben-Gvir's statements have once again highlighted his persistent support for the forced displacement of Palestinians and the expansion of Israeli settlements in Gaza, stances that have previously faced widespread international condemnation.