The conflict in the Gaza Strip within the Middle East continues to remain in a state of intense struggle despite various efforts aimed at reaching a peace agreement. Amidst this ongoing tension, Itamar Ben Gvir, the National Security Minister of Israel and a prominent hardline leader, has issued a highly provocative statement. He has suggested that the Israeli military should carry out the killing of 30 to 40 people in Gaza every single night. On top of that, he asserted that the Palestinian people residing in that region aren't even human beings.
Controversial Remarks in Podcast
Itamar Ben Gvir, who is considered one of the most radical leaders within Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, made these comments during a podcast featuring Rom Braslavski, a person who was previously held as a hostage in Gaza. During the discussion, the minister expressed his view that there should be targeted killings in Gaza every night. He specifically mentioned that the daily death toll should be around 30 to 40 individuals. He emphasized that these killings shouldn't be restricted only to those who pose an immediate or direct threat to Israeli forces.
Dehumanization and Calls for Total Destruction
While speaking about the complete destruction of Palestinians, the Israeli minister stated that these people shouldn't even be alive. He went on to say that by calling them human, he was actually praising them, implying they don't deserve such a description. Ben Gvir stated that the killings must extend beyond those who are currently a threat. He reiterated his stance that these individuals simply shouldn't exist, further intensifying his rhetoric against the population of Gaza.
Vision for Israeli Settlements Across Gaza
The remarks of Ben Gvir didn't stop at the calls for nightly killings, while he also expressed a strong desire for Israel to establish settlements throughout the entire Gaza region. His stated goal is to force the Palestinian people to leave the area entirely. He was quoted as saying that he considers the whole of Gaza to be his own. He wants Palestinians to leave in the largest possible numbers so that Israeli settlements can be built across the entire territory.
The Israeli minister further elaborated that these settlements shouldn't be limited to Gush Katif but should span the whole of Gaza. He advocated for encouraging as many people as possible to leave and be sent to other countries. Regarding those he labeled as terrorists, he stated there should be no migration or escape for them, but rather they should be killed one by one.
Diplomatic Context and Meeting with Jared Kushner
These comments from the hardline leader Ben Gvir have surfaced at a time when significant diplomatic movements are occurring. On Monday, Jared Kushner, the Middle East envoy for the United States, held a meeting lasting several hours with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while this meeting took place just days after Netanyahu publicly rejected a new portion of the American plan intended to end the ongoing war in Gaza.
Under the proposed plan, Hamas would be required to lay down its weapons, and Israel would begin a phased withdrawal of its military forces from large parts of the Gaza Strip. According to an Israeli official with knowledge of the meeting, Netanyahu and Kushner reached an agreement that an American General would oversee the process of Hamas surrendering its arms. However, Netanyahu insisted that Israel wouldn't withdraw its forces from Gaza until this disarmament process is fully completed.
Agreement on Reconstruction and Military Deployment
A senior Israeli official informed the news agency AFP that both parties have agreed that there will be no military redeployment or reconstruction in Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed throughout the region. Jared Kushner, who is the son in law of former US President Donald Trump and a long time family friend of Netanyahu, met with the Israeli leader in Jerusalem. This meeting followed a rare direct discussion Kushner had with Hamas in Egypt a day earlier. Hamas has publicly expressed its agreement with the US backed plan, even as internal Israeli political pressure from leaders like Ben Gvir continues to mount.