Execution facility for terrorists sentenced to death is under construction, Ben-Gvir says

Ben-Gvir showcases execution facility construction

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has posted a video showing a construction site he says will house a facility for executing Palestinian prisoners by hanging. The video, posted on Instagram, shows Ben-Gvir pointing at foundations and stating that “in this place, the terrorists will be executed.” He said the complex would include “viewing chambers where crime victims will be able to come and watch” the hangings, a feature he described as customary in many countries.

Ben-Gvir's office announced the construction on Tuesday, saying the facility was being built within an already-constructed death row prisoner wing in central Israel. In the video, Ben-Gvir said: “I promised to worsen the conditions of terrorists in prisons – we kept it. 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 announcement follows the Knesset's passage of the Death Penalty for Terrorists Law earlier this year, which mandates the death penalty for Palestinians convicted in military courts of terrorism offenses, unless special circumstances allow for life imprisonment. The law was later added to West Bank security regulations by IDF Central Command chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth in May. It applies only to Palestinians, not to Israeli citizens.

Political and personal celebrations

Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician with multiple convictions for incitement and support of the banned Kach movement, has publicly celebrated the death penalty in various ways. He wore a gallows-shaped pin, cracked champagne when the law passed, and his wife gave him a noose-themed cake for his 50th birthday. The video is not an isolated incident; Ben-Gvir recently appeared on the podcast of former hostage Rom Braslavski, telling Braslavski that seeing him execute captured terrorists would be “one of my greatest dreams.” He also told Braslavski that Palestinian prisoners under his supervision “don't deserve to live.” The Jerusalem Post, in an op-ed, described the video as a “macabre spectacle” that harms Israel's image, and noted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly condemned Ben-Gvir's actions.

Support and skepticism

Ben-Gvir's office stressed the facility's deterrent value, and in June he appointed six bereaved family members from the Choosing Life Forum as official inspectors under the law. However, the law has faced legal challenges. A petition against the law was filed with the High Court of Justice in April, arguing it is unconstitutional and discriminatory because it applies only in West Bank military courts, and Israeli-Arab lawmakers sought to join it. Several sources report that critics say the law created a system that only applies to Palestinians.

International and human rights reactions

International criticism has been swift. German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil called for EU sanctions against Ben-Gvir, describing his language as “dehumanising.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described Ben-Gvir's comments as “unacceptable and inhuman,” and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he “strongly condemns the inhumane appeals made by minister Ben-Gvir, which violate international law.” Ben-Gvir has already been subject to sanctions from France, Ireland, and the UK. The UK foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, has also summoned Israel's charge d'affaires over issues related to settlements.

Human rights organizations have condemned the law and the execution facility. Amnesty International's Erika Guevara-Rosas criticized the death penalty law as discriminatory, dismantling protections, and empowering apartheid. B'Tselem's Yuli Novak said Israel “already kills Palestinians systematically” and faces no accountability. B'Tselem has also described IPS detention facilities under Ben-Gvir's leadership as “a network of torture camps” where prisoners face continuous abuse. According to Middle East Eye, at least 104 Palestinian prisoners have died in Israeli custody since 2023.

Ben-Gvir has also called for killing Palestinians in Gaza and expelling them from the territory, and advocated for 30-40 targeted assassinations per night. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has urged Israel to avoid giving critics ammunition, noting that Jewish criminals in the West Bank should also be considered terrorists.

Perspectives

• Government of Israel: Itamar Ben-Gvir and his office frame the execution facility as a fulfillment of promises to improve deterrence and provide justice for victims. The law was passed by the Knesset as the Death Penalty for Terrorists Law, and Ben-Gvir says the facility is a historic step.
• Human Rights Organizations: Amnesty International, B'Tselem, and others criticize the law as discriminatory, inhumane, and a violation of human rights. They emphasize that the law establishes a death penalty that applies only to Palestinians, and they decry Ben-Gvir's language and actions as dehumanizing.
• Legal and Parliamentary Opponents: Israeli-Arab lawmakers and the High Court petition argue the law is unconstitutional and discriminatory, pointing to its application in West Bank military courts.
• International Community: Several European leaders and the UN have condemned Ben-Gvir's comments and the execution facility, expressing concern over the violation of international law and calling for accountability, including sanctions against Ben-Gvir.
• U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee: While not directly commenting on the facility, Huckabee has warned against giving critics ammunition and equates Jewish terrorism with Palestinian terrorism, suggesting a nuanced position on Israel's security messaging.