Ben-Gvir Calls for Killing '30 to 40' a Night in Gaza: 'They're Not Even People'

Israel's national security minister is openly demanding a dramatic escalation in Gaza, calling on the military to kill "30 to 40" people every night in what he described as targeted assassinations. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, made the remarks on a podcast hosted by a former Gaza hostage, breaking publicly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the current drawdown of strikes.

"It's no secret, I disagree with the prime minister," Ben-Gvir said. "I think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night."

The comments surfaced over the weekend and spread quickly through Palestinian media, drawing immediate international attention. Ben-Gvir went well beyond calling for strikes on active threats, saying there are people in Gaza who "are not worthy of life" and "shouldn't live."

"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," he said.

A Sitting Cabinet Minister Breaks Ranks

The remarks came during an episode of "The 8 October" podcast, hosted by Rom Braslavski, a former captive who was held in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The conversation covered Israel's recovery from the attack and the state of the war, and Ben-Gvir used it to voice his frustration with the government's approach.

Israel has scaled back its strikes in Gaza under the current ceasefire, a shift Ben-Gvir openly opposes. He argued instead for a renewed campaign of nightly assassinations that would extend well beyond individuals posing an immediate military threat.

The split is significant because Ben-Gvir is a sitting member of Netanyahu's coalition cabinet. His public criticism signals real tension at the top of the Israeli government over the direction of the war, and it lands as Israel prepares for discussions on Gaza's post-war order, a subject that has divided the coalition.

A Record of Extreme Rhetoric

This is not the first time Ben-Gvir has drawn condemnation for extreme statements about Palestinians. He has repeatedly pushed policies critics describe as ethnic cleansing, including proposals for the mass eviction of Palestinians from Gaza, and his past remarks have been cited in international legal proceedings examining Israel's conduct in the war.

Under international norms, statements by senior officials calling for the killing of civilians can carry serious legal weight, and human rights groups have long pointed to such rhetoric as evidence of intent. Ben-Gvir has brushed off the criticism, remaining one of the most powerful figures in the coalition and a key political ally of Netanyahu.

His latest comments come at a delicate moment. The ceasefire has reduced the intensity of fighting, but Gaza remains in ruins and periodic strikes continue. American and regional mediators have been pushing to keep the truce in place while broader negotiations over hostages and the post-war settlement drag on.

What Happens Next

The immediate question is whether Netanyahu publicly distances himself from his national security minister or quietly tolerates the outburst. Coalition politics in Israel are fragile, and Ben-Gvir's party has threatened to leave the government before over policy disputes, including on Gaza.

For now, the ceasefire appears to be holding, but the war remains unresolved. Ben-Gvir's call for nightly killings has energized hard-line voices within the coalition while drawing condemnation from much of the international community, including groups that track war crimes allegations.

The episode also complicates the American role in the region. Washington has backed efforts to stabilize Gaza and move toward a post-war arrangement, and inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli officials makes that work harder. With the broader Middle East on edge, the coming weeks will show whether Netanyahu can keep his coalition united or whether Ben-Gvir's hard-line push reshapes the war once again.