Portrait of Itamar Ben Gvir
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Itamar Ben Gvir on Gaza

Supports Gaza takeover (strong)

TL;DR

Itamar Ben Gvir strongly advocates for conquering all of Gaza and encouraging Palestinian emigration from the territory.

Key Points

  • He publicly called for Israel to "conquer all of Gaza" and encourage Palestinian emigration from a video statement on August 3, 2025.

  • He claimed there is "no real hunger in Gaza" and stated his support for "starving Hamas" in July 2025.

  • He temporarily resigned from the government in January 2025 over a ceasefire deal but rejoined the coalition in March 2025 after airstrikes continued.

Summary

Itamar Ben Gvir, the National Security Minister, has repeatedly voiced an extreme stance regarding the Gaza Strip, explicitly calling for a full military takeover of the entire territory. This position is coupled with a call to actively "encourage voluntary emigration" of Palestinians from Gaza, a concept critics equate to ethnic cleansing. He has also claimed there is "no real hunger in Gaza," stating he supports "starving Hamas" in the enclave, directly contradicting international warnings about a deepening famine.

His views are consistent with his broader Kahanist ideology, which includes advocating for the establishment of Israeli settlements in Gaza post-conflict. This maximalist position has caused him to momentarily resign from the government in January 2025 over a ceasefire deal, only to return two months later after the fighting resumed, underscoring his dedication to rejecting any outcome short of complete control over the area.

Key Quotes

If they accelerate the recognition of the Palestinian terrorist state, and the UN recognises a Palestinian state, targeted assassinations of senior Palestinian Authority officials, who are terrorists for all intents and purposes, should be ordered

Frequently Asked Questions

Itamar Ben Gvir holds a maximalist, far-right position on Gaza, advocating for a complete Israeli takeover of the Strip. He explicitly supports Jewish resettlement there and the forced 'voluntary emigration' of the Palestinian population.

His core stance pushing for maximalist Israeli control and settlement has remained consistent, rooted in his Kahanist ideology. However, he temporarily resigned from the government in January 2025 when a ceasefire deal was accepted, demonstrating a willingness to halt participation if the war did not continue.

He has publicly denied that a real hunger crisis exists in Gaza, suggesting that if people were hungry, they would have returned the hostages. He explicitly stated that he supports 'starving Hamas' in Gaza.