Israel's Ben-Gvir advocates killing '30 to 40' people in Gaza every night

Key Points:

• Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly called for killing "30 to 40" people in Gaza nightly, criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s approach and advocating targeted assassinations beyond immediate threats.
• Ben-Gvir, a far-right lawmaker with significant control over Israel’s police and prison systems, has previously been accused of policies depriving Palestinian prisoners of basic needs, and his statements have been cited as evidence of genocidal intent by international bodies.
• His remarks, largely unreported in Israeli domestic media, reflect the rising influence of extremist ideologies ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections, fueled by public outrage after Hamas’ deadly attack in 2023.
• Ben-Gvir also proposed mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza and resettlement by Israel, a concept international lawyers warn could constitute ethnic cleansing, despite Israel’s prior withdrawal from Gaza two decades ago.
• The Israeli military has recently limited strike authority to its chief of staff, easing attacks on Gaza amid U.S. diplomatic efforts, a move that has drawn criticism from right-wing figures like Ben-Gvir who oppose any drawdown.