Israel's Ben-Gvir advocates killing '30 to 40' people in Gaza nightly while speaking to ex-hostage
Israel's national security minister called for nightly killings of 30 to 40 people in Gaza during a podcast appearance released Sunday.
Source: Associated Press · August 17, 2026 at 4:55 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-source
KUALA LUMPUR, 18 AUGUST 2026 —
Israel's national security minister called for nightly killings of 30 to 40 people in Gaza during a podcast appearance released Sunday.
Market Impact
Itamar Ben-Gvir made the remarks while speaking to Rom Braslavski, a former hostage held for 55 days after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. "Targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night," Ben-Gvir said. "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."
Ben-Gvir does not control military operations but oversees Israel's prisons and police, where thousands of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank are held. Earlier this year, Israel's top court ruled that the prison service under Ben-Gvir had deprived Palestinians of a minimum subsistence diet. His comments echo past statements that have drawn international condemnation, including at the U.N.'s International Court of Justice, where they have been presented as evidence of genocidal intent.
Israel denies committing genocide in Gaza. Domestic media has given Ben-Gvir's comments little coverage, but his rise reflects the growing influence of far-right ideologies ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 elections. Since Hamas's attack, figures like Ben-Gvir have gained popularity, with many Israelis supporting harsher measures against Palestinians.
In the same interview, Ben-Gvir advocated for the mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and the resettlement of the territory by Israel. "I see all of Gaza as ours," he said. "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."
Twenty years ago, Israel withdrew from Gaza, dismantling 21 Jewish settlements known as Gush Katif and pulling out its forces. The resettlement proposal echoes international concerns about ethnic cleansing. Human rights lawyers have warned that forced displacement could amount to a war crime.
Ben-Gvir's call for nightly killings comes as Israel and Hamas remain locked in stalled ceasefire negotiations. U.S. President Donald Trump's latest proposal would see Hamas gradually surrender its weapons while Israel halts strikes and withdraws from Gaza. Hamas has accepted the deal but insists on the creation of a Palestinian state, a condition Israel rejects.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel will not retreat from Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed. The impasse has delayed other ceasefire terms, including the deployment of international forces and reconstruction efforts.