Jerusalem: Amid rising international concern over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sparked fresh outrage by declaring that Palestinians in Gaza should be denied food, fuel, and humanitarian aid. His remarks came during a speech at the controversial Jerusalem Day march through occupied East Jerusalem, attended by thousands of far-right Israelis and settlers.
Ben-Gvir, a key figure in Israel's ultranationalist government, took to the stage and openly urged the continuation of Israel’s total blockade on Gaza, stating:
“I say to the prime minister, ‘Dear prime minister, we must not give them humanitarian aid. We must not give them fuel…’ Our enemies deserve only a bullet to the head!”
His comments, reported by The Times of Israel, were met with chants and cheers from the crowd, many of whom marched through Palestinian neighborhoods under heavy police protection. Critics have long described the march as a provocative display of settler dominance and anti-Arab sentiment, especially given its route through occupied East Jerusalem.
Ben-Gvir went on to claim that “victory must be taken further and further,” and reaffirmed his belief that Israel should enter and permanently control Gaza. His language—openly advocating for collective punishment and military expansion—comes as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 61,000, with entire neighborhoods flattened, families buried under rubble, and hospitals running on fumes.
Joining Ben-Gvir was Israel’s Finance Minister, another far-right figure in Netanyahu’s coalition, who addressed the crowd with a question that drew roaring applause:
“Are we settling the land of Israel? Are we liberating Gaza?”
The timing and tone of these remarks have alarmed human rights groups and observers globally. Calls for accountability and sanctions against Israeli officials have grown louder, particularly in European capitals, where debates over suspending Israel’s trade privileges under the EU-Israel Association Agreement are intensifying.
Meanwhile, Spain’s foreign minister recently hosted a meeting of 20 European and Arab nations in Madrid, urging the international community to consider sanctions and recognition of Palestinian statehood as pressure mounts for a meaningful ceasefire and long-term solution.
Ben-Gvir’s words mark a deepening of ideological extremism within the Israeli leadership, with far-right ministers openly undermining international law, rejecting humanitarian norms, and dismissing the lives of over two million Palestinians as expendable.
With Israel’s offensive in Gaza now in its eighth month, and over 122,000 people wounded, many in the global community are questioning how long governments can continue providing diplomatic cover to a war that leading experts are warning may already amount to genocide.
As the suffering in Gaza worsens and Israeli leaders double down on dehumanizing rhetoric, the question facing the world is no longer whether this is a humanitarian crisis—but whether we are willing to stop it.
