Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has released footage of himself confronting imprisoned Hamas operative Hassan Salameh inside his cell and directly telling him “I want to kill you” and “I want to execute you.” The video, posted by the minister around September 27, 2026, shows Ben-Gvir standing face-to-face with Salameh while flanked by armed and masked guards. He referenced Salameh’s role in the 1996 Jerusalem bus bombings that killed dozens of people and declared that as national security minister he had already made the prisoner’s life “hell.” Ben-Gvir described the encounter as personal closure, recalling how he protested those attacks as a teenager, and framed the moment as accountability for the convicted bomber serving multiple life sentences.

In accompanying comments, Ben-Gvir vowed that if appointed defense minister after the upcoming Israeli election he would advance death-penalty legislation for terrorists and continue promoting “voluntary migration” policies. The clip quickly spread online, drawing millions of views and intense debate over the extreme rhetoric used by a senior government figure toward a long-imprisoned individual. Rights groups have called for investigations into the threats, while supporters view the confrontation as a long-overdue stance against those responsible for past attacks. The episode underscores the sharp tone of Israeli politics as elections approach and raises questions about how far such public displays may influence policy toward Palestinian prisoners.