Israel’s Ben Gvir boasts of planned execution facility for Palestinian prisoners
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir points to a construction site he says will be used to hang Palestinian prisoners
Nadav Rapaport reports in Middle East Eye on 19 August 2026:
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir boasted on Tuesday about the construction of a facility intended for the execution of Palestinian prisoners.
“In this place, the terrorists will be executed,” Ben Gvir said in a video posted on Instagram, where he has around 150,000 followers.
In the video, Ben Gvir points towards what appears to be an active construction site and says the complex will include “viewing chambers where crime victims will be able to come and watch” Palestinians being hanged.
“We are fulfilling what we promised,” the minister added. Ben Gvir also celebrated what he described as a victory over his opponents, saying those who “ridiculed” and “giggled” at his plan to execute Palestinians could now see that “this place is starting to be built”.
Earlier this year, Israel’s parliament approved a bill regulating the execution of Palestinian prisoners convicted of involvement in deadly attacks. According to the law, which was sponsored by Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party, the Israel Prison Service (IPS) will be the agency in charge of the executions.
Critics have described it as another discriminatory law, arguing that it can be applied only to Palestinians and not to Israeli Jewish citizens.
Three IPS volunteers are reportedly expected to carry out the executions, which would be conducted by hanging within 90 days of sentencing.