“Disgusting. Scandalous,” says UN chief António Guterres, according to his spokesman, about Ben-Gvir's latest statements, which he calls “dehumanizing” and “dangerous.”
Ben-Gvir is known for his extremely anti-Arab views, but is the security minister in Benjamin Netanyahu's government. This spring, he pushed through a controversial bill to impose the death penalty on terrorists - a law that in practice applies to Palestinians but not Israelis.
Now he has posted a video on Telegram, where he claims to be standing at a new execution facility being built “centrally in the country”. In the text of the video, he describes “a special place for hangings,” where executions will take place. “Designated places will allow victims of crime and their relatives to watch the event, as is customary in many countries.”
“Targeted eliminations”
There have also been statements by the Minister of Security in a podcast, where it was discussed that the Netanyahu government has reduced attacks in the occupied Palestinian Gaza Strip.
“It's no secret that I disagree with the prime minister,” Ben-Gvir said, according to media reports.
“I think targeted killings should be carried out in Gaza, that we take out 30 to 40 every night.”
“Not just those who pose an immediate threat. There are people who don't deserve to live. They shouldn't live. They're not even human.”
The statements are reigniting a debate within the EU about how tough to be against Israeli leaders. France has already imposed an entry ban on the Israeli security minister.
Requires unanimity
“Ben-Gvir’s statements are unacceptable and inhumane,” Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot now declares. He calls for new EU sanctions, writing that “all options are on the table.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz “strongly condemns the inhumane statements made by the minister (Ben-Gvir),” spokesman Sebastian Hille said, according to news agencies.
“They are violating international law,” he continues.
However, imposing EU-wide sanctions requires unanimity among the 27 members. So far, more pro-Israel countries in the union have resisted.
