"Eliminate 30-40 in Gaza every night": Ben Gvir's statement to the hostage survivor - and the global storm
The Minister of National Security said in an interview with Rom Braslavsky's podcast that targeted assassinations should be carried out, not only of those who pose an immediate danger: "They should not live." Many media outlets around the world echoed the remarks. Ben Gvir himself, while Jared Kushner is trying to push for an end to the war, said: "In my imagination, I see all of Gaza as ours."
Almost three years after the October 7 massacre, hostage survivor Rom Braslavsky launched a new podcast yesterday (Sunday) titled "October 8th". In its first episode, Braslavsky hosted Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, whose remarks sparked a storm and made headlines in leading media outlets around the world.
Among other things, the following statement was echoed globally: "I think we need to carry out targeted assassinations in Gaza, to take down 30-40 every night. Not just those who endanger you at that moment, there are people there who are not fit to live. They should not live, they are not even people. I am giving them a compliment by calling them people."
While Jared Kushner, son-in-law and envoy of US President Donald Trump, arrived in the region to demand the practical implementation of the outline for ending the war in Gaza, Ben Gvir further said: "We need to rehabilitate ourselves through care, help, and the embrace of the people of Israel - but also by fighting these enemies. In my imagination, I see all of Gaza as ours. Settlements not only in Gush Katif, in all of Gaza, to encourage emigration as much as possible, to send them to their countries. And the terrorists, no emigration and nothing, to kill them one by one."
Later in the conversation, the Minister of National Security explained that he wants us to live in a country without fear: "I want this country to be ours fully, fully, fully, I want our enemies - those who try to murder us and harm us - we should harm them first. If someone comes to kill you, rise early to kill him."
Ben Gvir's words were quoted in headlines in leading media outlets, including the British "Financial Times", the AP news agency, the German "Der Spiegel", and the Italian "Corriere della Sera". In the AP agency, it was written that similar past statements by the minister and other Israeli officials have received widespread condemnation - and were even presented to the International Criminal Court in The Hague as evidence of intent to commit genocide. The article reviewed Ben Gvir's work as Minister of National Security and described him as "one of the most influential people in Israel today."
Regarding the minister's words in the podcast concerning settlement in Gaza, it was written that according to international lawyers, "mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza could lead to ethnic cleansing." The international news site "Euronews" also addressed Ben Gvir's words, writing that he called for encouraging mass emigration from the Gaza Strip, and that the minister said he views the entire territory as Israeli. The article noted that the minister is perceived as an extremist in the government, and that his views have become more popular among Israelis after the October 7 massacre, due to his tough rhetoric - calling for broader suppression of the organization and more control over Gaza.
The article even noted that Ben Gvir has been banned from entering more than 10 countries, including France, Belgium, Spain, the UK, Canada, and Australia, and that he does not hold authority over the country's military and cannot order strikes in Gaza. As in the AP news agency, "Euronews" also noted that Ben Gvir has significant control over key parts of Israel's security apparatus, writing: "He is responsible for the country's prisons - where thousands of Palestinians from Gaza and Judea and Samaria are imprisoned - as well as for the Israel Police."
In the German "Der Spiegel", it was noted that the minister's words were also reported in the Palestinian media, and it was written that this is not the first time he has called for encouraging the emigration of the Strip's residents from their homes - and to promote Israeli settlement in Gaza. Alongside this, the article noted that his words come at a tense time regarding the next stage in Gaza, while Israel has indeed reduced its strikes in the Strip - but has rejected a complete withdrawal before the full disarmament of Hamas.
In the Italian "Corriere della Sera", the Minister of National Security's words were also mentioned. The Italian media outlet noted that Tehran criticized the minister's words, and wrote that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi called Ben Gvir a "Zionist criminal" who "speaks simultaneously about the expulsion of Palestinians and about settlement in all of Gaza." In a post on his X account, Abadi added: "These admissions must be documented and preserved for the Day of Judgment and the trial of these criminals."
