Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked outrage after calling for the killing of senior Palestinian Authority (PA) officials if the United Nations approves recognition of a Palestinian state.
Ben-Gvir made the remarks during a political gathering, insisting that Israel must respond with “maximum force” if the international community supports Palestinian statehood. He claimed that top PA leaders are “enemies of Israel” and should be treated as such.
His comments immediately drew strong criticism from Israeli opposition politicians, Palestinian officials, and international observers, who warned that such statements could further escalate an already volatile situation in the occupied territories.
The Palestinian Authority condemned Ben-Gvir’s remarks as “incitement to murder,” accusing the Israeli government of using extremist rhetoric to undermine global efforts toward a two-state solution. PA representatives called on world leaders to hold Israel accountable for inflammatory statements by senior officials.
Within Israel, human rights groups said Ben-Gvir’s comments threaten to push the conflict into even more dangerous territory, stressing that political disagreement cannot justify calls for targeted killings.
The United Nations is expected to discuss renewed proposals regarding Palestinian statehood recognition in the coming days. Diplomats warn that tensions between Israel and the Palestinians could intensify further depending on the outcome of the UN vote.