Palestinians denounce Israeli minister Ben-Gvir’s threats against prisoner | News
Palestinians Condemn Minister’s Threat Against Hamas Figure
Published: September 28, 2026
The Palestinian Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs has expressed strong condemnation of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir after he shared footage on social media in which he threatened to kill jailed Hamas leader Hassan Salama. Ben-Gvir posted the video on X, in which he is seen in Salama’s prison cell, stating, “I want to kill you… I want you executed.”
Raed Abu al-Hummus, head of the Palestinian Authority agency, criticized the video as a display of moral decline, stating, “The footage published by Ben-Gvir shows that degradation and depravity have reached their highest levels.” He characterized the conditions in Israeli prisons as “organized terrorism.”
Hassan Salama has been imprisoned for 30 years, serving multiple life sentences for his involvement in Hamas attacks, including bus bombings in 1996. The footage of Ben-Gvir was reportedly recorded two weeks prior to its release.
The Palestinian Prisoners Media Office labeled the actions of Ben-Gvir as a “cheap political and electoral stunt” intended to influence the upcoming elections on October 27. They condemned his behavior as “a cowardly act of bullying against a defenseless and handcuffed prisoner,” asserting that Israeli authorities bear full responsibility for Salama’s well-being.
In response, Hamas declared that Ben-Gvir’s threat indicates a continuation of violence against Palestinian detainees and reiterated its commitment to secure their release.
Ben-Gvir’s actions in the video follow a pattern of incendiary rhetoric and aggressive policies towards Palestinian prisoners. Earlier this year, he was seen entering the cells of female Palestinian prisoners, where he commented on their conditions, and last year he confronted long-imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti.
In March, the Knesset enacted legislation permitting the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners under specific conditions, a measure championed by Ben-Gvir and his party, Jewish Power, which does not apply to Jewish Israelis. This legislation has faced considerable backlash and protests in the region due to its implications for Palestinian detainees.
On the same day, Ben-Gvir also advocated for the “emigration” of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, proposing a seven-year plan to facilitate the removal of approximately two million residents from Gaza, termed “Disengagement 710.” He indicated that, if re-elected, he would establish a ministry focused on the expulsion of Palestinians.
Ben-Gvir’s push for annexation of parts of the occupied Palestinian territory and his recent authorizations for additional gun licenses to Israelis in settlements have been met with international condemnation.
