Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir boasted on Tuesday about the construction of a facility designed for the execution of Palestinian prisoners. Pointing to what appeared to be an active construction site, the Israeli Minister noted that the complex would include "viewing rooms where Israelis can come and watch" the execution of Palestinians.
Ben-Gvir stated that he had won against his opponents by saying, "Terrorists will be executed here. We are fulfilling our promise."
Stating that those who "mocked" and "laughed" about the plan to execute Palestinians can now see that the facility has begun to be built, the Israeli Minister stated that earlier this year, the Israeli parliament approved the bill regulating the execution of Palestinian prisoners found guilty of involvement in deadly attacks.
ISRAEL'S DEATH LAW
Under the law, supported by Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party, the Israel Prisons Service would be responsible for carrying out death sentences. Critics called it another discriminatory law, arguing that it could only apply to Palestinians and not Jewish citizens in Israel.
According to reports in the Israeli media, before the Knesset passed the law in March, the Israel Prisons Service had begun to prepare places and personnel to carry out executions. Three volunteers from the prison service are expected to carry out the executions by hanging within 90 days of conviction.
STATEMENTS THAT ARE REACTIVE FROM BEN-GVİR
Last week, Ben-Gvir vowed to do everything in his power to allow Rom Braslavski, a former Israeli soldier held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, to execute Palestinians after he said he wanted to kill Palestinians "with his own hands." Ben-Gvir told Braslavski that the Palestinian prisoners under his care "did not deserve to live." In the same interview, the Israeli Minister also demanded that Palestinians in Gaza be killed and removed from the region.
According to Middle East Eye (MEE) news, Ben-Gvir's statements caused a great reaction in the international community. German Deputy Prime Minister Lars Klingbeil called on the European Union (EU) to punish Ben-Gvir.
In his statement to the German media on Tuesday, Klingbeil, co-chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, described the language used by Ben-Gvir as "inhumane" and said, "These are statements that we, as the German government, cannot accept in any way."
DETENTION FACILITIES TURNED INTO TORTURE CAMPS
Human rights organizations have long accused Israel of pursuing a policy of de facto execution of Palestinians. In March, before the death penalty law was passed, Yuli Novak, Executive Director of Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, said Israel was "already systematically killing Palestinians and not facing demands for accountability."
B'Tselem stated that under Ben-Gvir's leadership, Israel Prisons Service detention facilities turned into "a network of torture camps where prisoners were subjected to constant mistreatment and violence." The group noted that the death penalty law "adds yet another official killing mechanism to existing practices."
104 PALESTINES IN CAPTION LOST THEIR LIVES
As of June, at least 104 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli custody since 2023. While Ben-Gvir's execution facility statements further increase the tension in the region, the reactions from the international community are also intensifying.
