Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Ben Gvir Gaza remarks condemned by UN, Germany, France
The United Nations, Germany and France condemned remarks by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir calling for Israel to kill “30 or 40” people every night in Gaza.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric called the remarks “appalling,” “outrageous,” “dehumanizing” and “dangerous.” German government spokesman Sebastian Hille said Chancellor Friedrich Merz “strongly condemns” what he called Ben Gvir's “inhumane appeals” and said they violated international law. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the comments “intolerable and inhumane.”
Ben Gvir made the remarks during a podcast with a former Gaza hostage who had been held by Hamas. “I think targeted eliminations should be carried out in Gaza every night. Take out 30 or 40,” he said. “Not only those who endanger you right now. These are people who shouldn't be alive.”
German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil said Ben Gvir's comments “must have consequences” and said sanctions were being discussed at the European level. Several European countries have called for EU-wide sanctions against Ben Gvir, but the proposal has not won the required unanimity among the bloc's 27 member states.
France has already banned Ben Gvir from entering the country after he published a video in May mocking bound activists seized by Israeli soldiers on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
Germany also condemned Israeli plans for settlement expansion in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank. Hille said there must be “no further steps toward annexation in the West Bank.” Barrot said further sanctions could be imposed on Israeli settlers in the West Bank and that “all options are on the table.”
Update
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman described Ben Gvir's remarks as “appalling,” “outrageous,” “dehumanizing” and “dangerous.”
France's foreign minister said further sanctions could be imposed on Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 17:16:06 UTC.
Update
The UN chief called Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's remarks on Gaza “dangerous,” according to his spokesman.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 17:06:22 UTC.
Update
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called Ben Gvir's remarks intolerable and inhumane.
Several European countries have called for EU-wide sanctions against Ben Gvir, but unanimity has not been reached.
France banned Ben Gvir from entering the country after he published a video in May mocking bound activists seized on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
Barrot said further sanctions against Israeli settlers in the West Bank could be imposed.
The source added background figures on Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank, excluding east Jerusalem.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 12:32:51 UTC.
Update
German government spokesman Sebastian Hille gave Chancellor Friedrich Merz's condemnation of Itamar Ben Gvir's remarks.
German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil said sanctions were being discussed at the European level.
Germany also condemned Israeli plans for settlement expansion in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 11:06:08 UTC.
Update
France's foreign minister condemned far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's Gaza remarks as inhumane.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 10:55:04 UTC.
Update
The Israeli minister was identified as Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's far-right national security minister.
The remarks condemned by Merz were described as saying Israel should kill 30 to 40 people every night in Gaza.
German government spokesman Sebastian Hille said Merz called the remarks inhumane, in violation of international law and unacceptable.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 August 2026 at 10:24:48 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It is unclear whether the European Union will agree on sanctions against Ben Gvir.
It is unclear whether further sanctions will be imposed on Israeli settlers.
Source
AFP news report published on .