Occupied Palestine (QNN)- Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir boasted that he is directly responsible for imposing harsher conditions on Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, threatening female detainees with the “bare minimum of the minimum.”
Ben-Gvir made the remarks while storming the cells of Palestinian women detainees, according to a video he posted on his X on Sunday.
The footage shows a female detainee describing the conditions of detention as extremely poor and saying that detainees are being denied basic rights and personal necessities. “This is our third day without showering. We are not receiving medical treatment, and our clothes are not clean,” she said.
Ben-Gvir responded proudly: “The good conditions in the prisons are over. This is the current situation, and I am directly responsible for everything. I am pleased with these conditions.”
This was not the first time Ben-Gvir has raided Palestinian detainees’ cells to taunt or mock them.
Recently, he posted a gloating video of the construction of a gallows complex where Palestinians will be hanged.
Ben-Givr, who has previously attracted international sanctions and condemnation for his anti-Palestinian remarks and actions, said the new execution site would be equipped with viewing booths for families of victims to watch the hangings.
He posted the video on social media of a visit he had made to the unidentified location, where he can be seen pointing at foundations being laid and boasting it was where “terrorists will be executed”.
“I promised to worsen the conditions of terrorists in prisons – we kept it,” said Ben-Gvir in the video. “I promised to pass the Death Penalty for Terrorists law – we did. And now the death row and hanging facility are also starting to take shape.”
Since taking office, Ben-Gvir has pursued policies aimed at worsening detention conditions for Palestinian detainees, including measures involving food deprivation, mistreatment, physical abuse and other forms of abuse, as well as restrictions that have contributed to the spread of disease, systematic deprivation, isolation from the outside world, and continued restrictions on family visits.
Ben-Gvir, who himself has convictions for incitement to racism, interfering with a police officer performing his duty, and support for a terrorist organisation (Meir Kahane’s banned Kach movement), has served as Israel’s national security minister since 2022.
One of the main drivers of Israel’s new death penalty law, Ben-Gvir has a long history of extremist statements and provocations. He celebrated his 50th birthday in May with the gift of a birthday cake decorated with the iced image of a noose.
He also attracted widespread criticism only days ago for advocating a policy of punitive killings in Gaza of 30-40 people a night.
“I think we should be doing 30 to 40 targeted assassinations per night,” Ben-Gvir said. “Not just those who pose an immediate threat. There are people there who don’t deserve to live … They are not even people.”
The UN secretary general, António Guterres, ecalled Ben-Gvir’s comments “appalling”, “outrageous”, “dehumanising” and “dangerous”.
Ben-Gvir also advocated for a plan to place crocodiles in moats encircling prisons where Palestinian detainees are being held.
According to Palestinian prisoner advocacy groups, over 9,600 Palestinians are held in Israeli custody, including 84 women and 350 children, where they are subject to mistreatment – including medical neglect, beatings and rape – tantamount to systematic torture.
