The Minister of National Security of Israel, the far-right Itamar Ben Gvir, has proposed to establish a daily quota of "between 30 and 40 murders" of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He has described these operations as "selective" in nature, while downplaying the importance of determining whether the targeted individuals pose an immediate threat or not.
This stance conflicts with a resolution from the Israeli Supreme Court in 2006, which only considers selective murders those directed against "targets that are directly participating in hostilities." Various humanitarian NGOs argue that this practice actually amounts to illegal collective murders, having an indiscriminate effect that often results in the death of civilians who have nothing to do with the military objective.
As an example, the Israeli attack on July 13, 2024, in which the head of Hamas's military wing, Mohamed Deif, was killed, also resulted in the death of 90 people in the Al Mauasi refugee camp in the south of the Gaza Strip.
In statements to the podcast "October 8," hosted by released Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski and broadcast by the Israeli newspaper "Times of Israel," Ben Gvir again defended the total occupation of the Gaza Strip and the expulsion of its entire population as part of the same logic of terror that inspires his proposal.
"It seems to me that selective murders should be carried out in Gaza and take out between 30 and 40 (Gazans) every night. Not just those who represent an immediate threat," said Ben Gvir, who has previously advocated for the extermination of the Palestinian population.
"There are people there who do not deserve to live. They shouldn't even live. They are not even people," added the minister, before reiterating his conviction that "all of Gaza belongs to Israel," even beyond the former Gush Katif settlements evacuated two decades ago.
"Migration should be encouraged as much as possible. For terrorists, no emigration, nothing, just kill them one by one," emphasized Ben Gvir. This type of pronouncement has earned him repeated criticism from much of the international community, including traditional partners of Israel like the United States.
Despite everything, these statements have not resulted in sanctions or political repercussions for Ben Gvir, whose support is key to keeping the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu afloat.