Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir advocated killing 30 to 40 people nightly in Gaza during a podcast interview published on Sunday. The far-right official asserted that Palestinians are not worthy of life, drawing immediate international condemnation and questions from regional business leaders.
Podcast Comments Spark Outrage and Regional Reevaluation
Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, used an appearance on a Sunday podcast hosted by former Gaza hostage Rom Braslavski to criticize a recent reduction in the intensity of Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. Ben-Gvir stated that he disagreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the scale of military strikes in the Palestinian territory.
During the recorded interview, the security chief called for targeted assassinations on a mass scale to take down 30 to 40 people every night. Ben-Gvir expanded on his remarks by claiming the targets should extend beyond immediate threats.
“Not just those who pose an immediate threat, there are people there who are not worthy of life. They shouldn’t live. They’re not even people.”
Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s National Security Minister
Advocacy for Resettlement and Gaza Disagreements
Beyond nightly killings, Ben-Gvir used the podcast to outline a vision for the total demographic and territorial reconfiguration of Gaza.
Ben-Gvir advocated mass Palestinian emigration from the enclave, suggesting residents be sent to other countries while those he labeled as terrorists be killed. He also called for the reestablishment of Israeli settlements across the entire strip, referencing Gush Katif, an Israeli settlement bloc that was dismantled when forces pulled out of Gaza two decades ago.
“I see all of Gaza as ours, settlements not just in Gush Katif but throughout Gaza, encouraging as much emigration as possible, sending them to their countries. And for the terrorists, no emigration, nothing, just to kill them one by one.”
Itamar Ben-Gvir, National Security Minister
While Ben-Gvir does not command military forces or direct strike orders, he exercises substantial control over Israel’s national police force and prison system. His public rhetoric runs counter to the current military posture after nearly three years of genocide in Gaza, during which health officials in Hamas-run Gaza report more than 1,250 deaths from ongoing strikes since an October truce took effect.
Emirati Business Leadership Questions Normalization Ties
The statements provoked swift regional fallout, particularly from a prominent Emirati billionaire who had previously championed diplomatic normalization with Israel. Khalaf Ahmad al-Habtoor, a former member of the Federal National Council, challenged the viability of peaceful coexistence following the minister’s remarks.
In a post on X, Al Habtoor questioned how regional peace can be achieved while Israeli ministers openly demand mass violence. Although Al Habtoor does not hold a current government post, his proximity to the UAE ruling circles lent significant weight to his intervention.
“If an official in the Israeli government can speak this way openly, without shame or fear of accountability, how can we, at the same time, be asked to speak of peace, negotiations, and coexistence?”
Khalaf Ahmad al-Habtoor, Emirati billionaire and former Federal National Council member
Despite mounting tensions, economic and diplomatic ties between the two nations have persisted. Bilateral trade reached $3.2bn in 2025, positioning the UAE as Israel’s largest Arab trading partner even as conflict continued.
International Condemnation and Legal Scrutiny
International observers and foreign officials swiftly denounced the remarks. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated on X that these confessions must be recorded and preserved for future accountability and trials.
Legal experts and United Nations officials warned that proposals to force Palestinians to leave Gaza could amount to ethnic cleansing. Similar statements by senior Israeli officials have previously been submitted to international courts as evidence of alleged genocidal intent—allegations that the Israeli government denies.
Ben-Gvir’s long political record includes multiple convictions for inciting racism and supporting Jewish nationalist movements. Western nations have targeted him with travel bans and sanctions over actions in the West Bank, with Ireland and France enacting entry bans this year following similar sanctions by the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Spain.
Ceasefire Pressures and What Lies Ahead
The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of delicate diplomatic negotiations involving the United States. Israel has reportedly reined in the frequency of its Gaza strikes as a suspected concession to President Donald Trump, following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s rejection of a U.S.-backed peace framework.
Trump’s latest proposal envisions Hamas gradually surrendering its heavy weaponry in exchange for a phased Israeli military withdrawal. While Hamas has expressed conditional acceptance linked to the formation of a Palestinian state—a prospect rejected by Israel’s ruling class—Netanyahu maintains that Israel will not yield any territorial positions until complete disarmament is achieved.
With military authority over strikes reportedly restricted to the army’s chief of staff, right-wing lawmakers remain locked in friction with the prime minister’s office.
