Coalition Leverage and Specific Pledges
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has vowed to push for the capital execution of Palestinian prisoners and accelerate the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank if he is appointed defence minister in the next government. The far-right minister made the pledge in a statement accompanying video footage posted on the X platform, according to AFP.
Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party will condition its entry into any future governing coalition on securing both the defence and justice ministerial portfolios. In his statement, Ben-Gvir asserted he would ensure prisoners face execution and promote what he calls "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank if he assumes the defence portfolio.
The video accompanying the pledge shows Ben-Gvir confronting Palestinian prisoner Hassan Salameh inside his prison cell. Salameh has been detained by Israeli authorities since 1996 and is serving multiple life sentences following convictions over bombings in the 1990s that Israel says killed and wounded dozens of Israelis.
Legislative Precedent and International Backlash
In March, the Israeli Knesset passed legislation authorising the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners under designated circumstances, a measure spearheaded by Ben-Gvir. The capital punishment bill provoked widespread condemnation, diplomatic friction, and popular demonstrations across Arab and regional nations.
Palestinian leaders, the wider public, and Arab states have denounced such schemes as forced expulsions and ethnic cleansing. France has accused Israel of scandalous tolerance of violence and land seizures in the occupied West Bank. Indonesia’s foreign minister stated, "Palestine remains a test of our conscience," reflecting broader international concern.
In Ireland, the opposition has demanded the cancellation of a football match with Israel. Former US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Escalation Rhetoric and Regional Instability
Ben-Gvir has called for a war in the occupied West Bank similar to Israel's war on Gaza. Preparations are underway for 1.25 million voters in Gaza amid destruction caused by Israeli attacks and security fears.