Israeli Hardline Minister Showcases Gallows Site for Palestinian Executions
Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has once again sparked controversy by showcasing a site for hanging Palestinians in a video posted to social media.
The gallows facility is currently under construction, following the passage of a law that regulates the death penalty for Palestinians tried for terrorism offences in Israeli military courts. The law does not apply to Jewish extremists accused of similar crimes.
In the video, as reported by The Guardian on Friday (21/8/2026), Ben-Gvir, known as a hardline Jew, appeared to boast about the construction of the gallows complex, which will be where Palestinians are hanged after being convicted of terrorism offences under the law.
Ben-Gvir, who has triggered international sanctions and condemnation over his various controversial actions and statements, said the execution site would be equipped with a special booth for victims’ families to witness the hanging process.
The video posted to Ben-Gvir’s social media account showed his visit to the undisclosed location. In the footage, he appeared to point towards the foundations being built while boasting that this was where “terrorists will be executed”.
“I promised to worsen the conditions of terrorists in prison — we have kept that promise,” Ben-Gvir said in the video.
“I promised to pass the death penalty law for terrorists — we have done it. Now, the death penalty facility and the hanging facility are beginning to be built,” the hardline minister added.
Several photographs published by local Israeli media showed a bulldozer and heavy construction activity in the area, which has been closed to the public and is reportedly located near a local prison.
Reports of the construction of the hanging facility emerged after the passage of a new law regulating the death penalty for Palestinians earlier this year. The law requires Israeli military courts to impose the death penalty as the only available sentence, unless the court finds special circumstances that allow for a life sentence to be handed down.
The hanging facility will be dedicated to executing Palestinians convicted of terrorism offences in the military court system, and not for Jewish extremists tried for similar offences.
In practice, Israeli citizens of Jewish descent are protected from the death penalty thanks to a provision that only applies the law to murders committed with “the intention of denying the existence of the state of Israel”.
Ben-Gvir himself has a long track record of making extremist statements and carrying out provocations. Recently, he was condemned for calling for the killing of 30-40 Gazans every night.