Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has promised to establish a settlement for police officers in the Gaza Strip.
Speaking at an Israel Police conference on Monday, Ben-Gvir said he wants to build a neighbourhood for officers “on the beach” in Gaza – describing it as a “perfect place”.
“We will build a magnificent police neighbourhood there, with tall buildings and modern design. With God’s help, we will win,” he said, addressing Police Commissioner Danny Levy to applause.
“Settlement leads to security. The time has come for Jewish settlement, to encourage immigration, and to pass the death penalty law for terrorists,” Ben-Gvir, who oversees the police, added. “It’s right, it’s appropriate, it’s moral, it’s true,” he declared, as police officers cheered.
Since taking office, Ben-Gvir – leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party – has faced accusations of politicising the police and promoting an extremist agenda within the force.
Tensions recently surfaced between Ben-Gvir and Levy after the police commissioner told Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth that “the police will always obey the orders of the court.”
These tensions have delayed a number of appointments within the police force. Both Ben-Gvir and Levy denied any rift during Monday’s conference, though the appointments remain unconfirmed.
It was also reported that Ben-Gvir instructed police not to attend a Prime Minister’s Office meeting on rising crime in Palestinian communities inside Israel.
Since Ben-Gvir assumed office, murders among Palestinian citizens of Israel have surged sharply. So far in 2025, 177 Palestinian citizens have been killed, compared with 116 in all of 2022.
On Monday, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also took part in a conference focused on applying Israeli sovereignty to the occupied West Bank, where he outlined his broader plans for both the West Bank and Gaza.
“We must push for sovereignty and encourage emigration from Gaza,” Ben-Gvir said, referring to the forced ethnic cleansing of over two millions people from the war-torn strip.
“If we change our mindset and understand that this is our land, everything becomes simpler.” He added that he expects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to adopt these policies before next year’s elections.
“We did it in the prisons, in establishing the National Guard, in the arms reform – now I want Netanyahu to do it with sovereignty and encouraging emigration.”
Ben-Gvir laid out what he described as the “very simple” goals of the war in Gaza: “Topple the Hamas regime. First occupy, then settle, annex, and encourage voluntary emigration. That is the path forward.”
His comments came just hours before Israeli forces launched a large-scale ground offensive into Gaza City, as part of a plan to forcibly expel the population and occupy the famine-stricken city.
Since Israel intensified its bombardment of Gaza City last month ahead of the ground invasion, more than 1,800 people have been killed and hundreds of homes destroyed.
Earlier, Ben-Gvir posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The time for vanquishment has come. Gaza,” accompanied by a fire emoji.
[ SOURCE: PRESS TV and NEWS AGENCIES ]
