Israeli Minister Sparks Outrage After Showcasing Planned Gallows for Palestinian Prisoners

TEL AVIV – Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security and a prominent figure in the country’s far-right political landscape, has drawn sharp international condemnation after sharing a video showcasing the construction of a dedicated execution site for Palestinian prisoners.

In a video published on the official Instagram account of his Otzma Yehudit party, Ben-Gvir is seen touring an undisclosed facility located near an Israeli prison. Pointing toward the construction area, the minister boasted that the site is being built to carry out the state’s newly established death penalty for those convicted of "terror offenses."

The minister emphasized that the facility is being designed with viewing booths, intended to allow the families of victims to witness the executions.

A Controversial Policy

"I promised to worsen the conditions of terrorists in prisons—we kept it," Ben-Gvir stated in the footage. "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."

The legislation, passed by the Knesset in March, mandates military courts to impose the death penalty by hanging as the default sentence for Palestinians convicted of terrorism-related crimes, provided no "special circumstances" warrant life imprisonment. The law exclusively targets Palestinians, exempting Jewish extremists from similar sentencing, a distinction that has drawn criticism from human rights organizations.

The latest revelations surrounding the hanging facility are part of an ongoing pattern of inflammatory actions by Ben-Gvir. Earlier this year, the minister made headlines for celebrating his 50th birthday with a cake decorated with the image of a noose.

Growing International Scrutiny

Ben-Gvir, a former lawyer who was previously convicted of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization, has been a central figure in the push to harden prison conditions for Palestinians. His rhetoric has consistently placed him at odds with the international community.

Last year, France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the minister, citing his advocacy for punitive policies in Gaza, including calls for large-scale retaliatory killings. His tenure has been marked by repeated provocations, including a widely criticized video released in May that showed detained Gaza activists kneeling with their hands bound after being captured by Israeli forces in international waters.

As the construction of the execution facility progresses, human rights advocates fear that the implementation of the law will further inflame regional tensions. Despite the international backlash, Ben-Gvir continues to lean into his hardline agenda, positioning himself as a primary architect of Israel’s most punitive measures against Palestinian detainees.