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Senior Israeli official calls for killing of "30 to 40" people in Gaza every night: "They're not even people"
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- Israel's far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for "30 to 40" targeted assassinations per night in Gaza, including individuals not posing an immediate threat, during a podcast interview.
- Ben-Gvir expressed a desire to see Israeli settlements expanded throughout Gaza and advocated for forcing Palestinian emigration, a move that UN officials warn could amount to ethnic cleansing.
- His comments have drawn condemnation and been cited as evidence of alleged genocidal intent by Israel's government; several countries have sanctioned or banned Ben-Gvir for inciting violence against Palestinians.
- Ben-Gvir, a follower of the extremist Kahanism movement, has a controversial history including convictions for inciting racism and support for Jewish nationalist terror groups.
- While he does not control military operations, Ben-Gvir oversees Israel's prisons and police, and has reduced food rations for Palestinian prisoners amid ongoing Israeli strikes in Gaza.
