Ben-Gvir claims 100 Israeli doctors volunteered to execute Palestinian prisoners

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said Tuesday that 100 doctors have volunteered to carry out executions of Palestinian prisoners if proposed legislation authorising the death penalty is approved.

The remarks were made during a heated session of the Knesset’s National Security Committee, which was debating a bill put forward by Ben-Gvir that would allow for the execution of any prisoner found guilty of participating in the killing of a Jew.

Under the proposed law, executions would be carried out within 90 days of a death sentence being issued, using lethal injection.

In video footage of the committee session circulated on Telegram, Ben-Gvir said that with the return of “Israeli living captives” from Gaza, there was “no excuse or justification” for failing to implement the law.

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Although the Israeli Medical Association has previously stated that it would refuse to participate in implementing the death penalty if the bill becomes law, Ben-Gvir claimed that more than 100 doctors had come forward voluntarily. “They said: ‘We are volunteering to participate in carrying out the death penalty,’” he said.

Ben-Gvir also claimed that the Shin Bet supports the bill and believes that implementing the death penalty would increase deterrence.

The comments drew sharp criticism during the session. Einat Ovadia, director general of the Zolat Institute for Equality and Human Rights, told Ben-Gvir that he was “the last person” who should be speaking about deterrence, governance or security, and that his views on punishment should not be sought.

“The death penalty is not a punishment; it is murder,” Ovadia said. Ben-Gvir responded by accusing her of supporting murderers and Hamas, according to the same video footage.

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