Ben-Gvir calls for Palestinian Authority to be disarmed

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday called for the Palestinian Authority to be disarmed, claiming this was necessary to prevent an attack from the occupied West Bank similar to the 7th October 2023 attack. 

In a video posted on X, Ben-Gvir said “I am standing here at the seam line near Tulkarm, just a few metres from Highway 6, not far from Netanya, Kfar Saba and the Sharon communities in central Israel, to issue a warning.”

“We must not repeat the same mistake. We must not wait until the events of 7th October reach this area as well.” 

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“We must disarm the Palestinian Authority, clear the area of military presence and arrest those who threaten Israeli citizens,” he added.

The Israeli minister’s remarks came as Israeli army and settler attacks in the occupied West Bank have intensified, alongside Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023.

In the West Bank, attacks by the army and settlers during the same period have killed 1,210 Palestinians, injured about 13,350 and led to the arrest of around 24,600 Palestinians.

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