Why it matters:
Ben-Gvir's provocative rhetoric and actions have sparked outrage within Palestine and beyond, reflecting Israel’s increasingly hardline stance towards Palestinian prisoners and reinforcing fears of further human rights violations. The condemnation highlights ongoing concerns over the treatment of prisoners under Israeli occupation.
The big picture:
This video and the statements by Ben-Gvir are part of a broader Israeli campaign involving controversial policies against Palestinian prisoners. The upcoming vote in the Knesset on capital punishment for Palestinian prisoners—particularly those affiliated with Hamas—escalates tensions and is seen by many as an attempt to further dehumanize Palestinians and undermine international human rights standards.
What they’re saying:
Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement (PIJ):
"The video showing Ben-Gvir, the so-called Minister of Security, threatening Palestinian prisoners, whose hands are bound and faces pressed to the ground, represents a severe violation of legal and human rights standards, and is indicative of the deep moral decay Israel continues to sink into.
"We reiterate that our courageous prisoners will remain proud and victorious. Their freedom remains one of the central goals of our resistance."
Key points:
- Ben-Gvir’s recent actions, including threatening bound Palestinian prisoners, have drawn widespread condemnation.
- The PIJ emphasized that such behavior cannot erase the humiliation suffered by the Israeli army in combat with resistance fighters.
- Ben-Gvir’s campaign is part of a larger push to reinstate the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners, which is set to be debated in the Israeli Knesset.
- The video shows Palestinian prisoners in a vulnerable position, further intensifying calls for justice and condemnation of Israeli policies.
State of play:
The Israeli Knesset is expected to vote soon on a controversial bill to reinstate the death penalty for Palestinian prisoners. This move adds to the already tense political and military environment, with Ben-Gvir’s actions increasingly seen as part of a broader Israeli effort to assert control and intimidate Palestinian prisoners.
Between the lines:
Ben-Gvir’s actions reflect his ongoing push to strengthen Israel’s military policies and to appeal to hardline right-wing supporters, but they also expose a deepening moral and ethical crisis in Israeli politics. Critics argue this further erodes Israeli regime’s standing on the international stage.
Go deeper:
Israel’s violations of international law and human rights conventions, including the Geneva Conventions, continue to spark debates about the legitimacy of its policies towards Palestinian prisoners.
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Hossein Vaez - seyed mohammad kazemi
