The Palestinian Center for Prisoners Advocacy expresses grave concern over the inflammatory statements made by extremist Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, in which he explicitly called for the execution of Palestinian prisoners in a manner that reflects a deeply disturbing and dehumanizing rhetoric.
The Center stresses that such statements cannot be dismissed as isolated or provocative remarks. Rather, they reflect a dangerous level of extremism and a willingness to treat the lives of prisoners as instruments of retaliation. The remarks made by Minister Ben Gvir cannot be separated from the reality inside Israeli prisons, where detainees are subjected daily to harsh practices, including direct physical assaults, medical neglect, and severe restrictions on basic living conditions. With the escalation of such rhetoric, the risk becomes even more acute, as incitement can translate into actions on the ground.
The Center further notes that the repeated discussion of a so-called “death penalty for prisoners” law places these statements within an even more alarming context. This is no longer mere incitement, but rather an attempt to pave the way for policies that could directly endanger the lives of detainees. Such developments must not be ignored or underestimated.
The Center warns that if this trajectory continues without accountability or deterrence, it may lead to the actual targeting of prisoners within detention facilities, particularly in light of global distractions and the declining level of international attention to these issues.
The Center affirms that the protection of prisoners is both a legal and moral obligation, and that any violation of their lives or physical integrity constitutes a clear breach of international human rights standards and must be subject to accountability.
The Palestinian Center for Prisoners Advocacy calls on international bodies and human rights organizations to take meaningful action and move beyond general statements, as continued silence under such circumstances enables further violations.
Palestinian Center for Prisoners Advocacy
Thursday, 19 March 2026
