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Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir Threatens Long-Imprisoned Hamas Figure in Prison Cell
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Threat Inside the Prison Cell
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video on the social-media platform X showing himself inside the cell of Hassan Salama, a Hamas operative serving multiple life sentences for attacks carried out in 1996, including bus bombings. In the recording Ben-Gvir tells Salama that he wants him killed and executed while surrounded by Israeli security forces. The minister indicated that the footage had been recorded two weeks earlier.
Legislative and Political Background
In March, Israel’s Knesset passed a law that permits the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners in certain cases, a measure strongly supported by Ben-Gvir and his Jewish Power party. The legislation does not extend the death penalty to Jewish Israelis. Ben-Gvir has repeatedly used incendiary rhetoric toward Palestinian detainees, previously taunting long-imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti and, in August, entering the cells of Palestinian women to criticize their conditions. His actions come ahead of the scheduled October 27 elections, which his party hopes to influence through a hard-line security platform.
Official Reactions
Hamas described Ben-Gvir’s threat as a new crime against Palestinian detainees and pledged to continue efforts to secure their release.
Potential Implications
The episode heightens concerns about the treatment of Palestinian prisoners and may affect Israel’s international standing ahead of the October 27 vote. Critics argue that the minister’s confrontational style could inflame tensions within the occupied territories and undermine prospects for diplomatic engagement, while supporters view the hard-line approach as a necessary security stance.
