Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has sparked controversy by demanding the arrest of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should the United Nations recognize Palestinian statehood. In a provocative statement on X (formerly Twitter), Ben Gvir also urged targeted assassinations of senior Palestinian Authority (PA) officials, whom he branded as “terrorists.” He revealed that a solitary confinement cell at Ketziot Prison has already been prepared for Abbas, referred to by his honorific name, Abu Mazen. These remarks come ahead of a critical UN Security Council vote on a US-backed resolution endorsing a Gaza peace plan, which includes a “credible pathway” to Palestinian statehood. On Sunday, Kan News reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is making last-minute diplomatic efforts to remove references to statehood from the draft resolution. The current draft suggests that conditions for Palestinian self-determination and statehood could be met following PA reforms and Gaza’s redevelopment. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Palestinian Popular Action (NCPPA) issued a strong statement rejecting US proposals for an externally imposed transitional administration in Gaza, labeling it as “a new colonialism.” The NCPPA, comprising various Palestinian groups and figures, emphasized that any governing body must reflect the will of the Palestinian people and uphold their right to self-determination, resistance, and freedom under international law.
Ben Gvir says Israel must arrest Abbas and kill PA officials if Palestinian state recognised
