Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir recently told former captive Rom Braslavski that he would attempt to let the soldier personally execute Palestinian prisoners.. This exchange occurred during a podcast interview regarding Israel's new legislation allowing for death by hanging.
Ben-Gvir's pledge to Rom Braslavski
During a recent podcast appearance, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir promised former captive Rom Braslavski that he would strive to allow the soldier to personally participate in the execution of Palestinian prisoners. According to the report, Braslavski explicitly requested to be the one to "hang them," though he expressed a preference for using a gun rather than a rope. Ben-Gvir responded by stating he would "turn the world upside down" to ensure this request was granted.
The exchange underscores a shift toward personalized retribution in the Israeli security apparatus. By validating Braslavski's desire to "execute every terrorist in the State of Israel" with his own hands, Ben-Gvir is framing state justice not as a neutral legal process, but as a tool for the emotional redress of victims.
The March 2026 Knesset legislation on hanging
This promise is anchored in a specific legal shift. In late March 2026, the Israeli Knesset passed a law introduced by the Jewish Power party that mandates death by hanging for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis . This penalty applies if a military court determines the act constituted "terrorism" or was motivated by the "denial of the existence of Israel," as the report says.
The introduction of the death penalty by the Jewish Power party represents a significant escalation in the legal framework governing the conflict. While the law provides the mechanism for execution, the Minister's public commitment to let a private citizen trigger that mechanism suggests a willingness to blur the line between judicial execution and vigilante action.
The removal of chocolate and television from Palestinian cells
This move toward capital punishment is part of a broader hardening of the Israeli state's approach to detainees. Since Itamar Ben-Gvir assumed office in late 2022 , the National Security Minister has aggressively targeted the quality of life for Palestinian prisoners. Ben-Gvir claimed during the interview that he had previously seen "jam, chocolate, television, table tennis and meat" in prisons, which he described as "madness."
The current administration has since implemented policies that have significantly degraded these conditions. Ben-Gvir stated he is "glad they are suffering," arguing that such hardship provides a "balm" for the pain experienced by Israeli captives and their families. Rights reports have indicated that these tightened conditions include restrictions on essential medical care and food.
The legality of a former soldier acting as executioner
Despite the political rhetoric, several critical legal gaps remain . It is currently unclear whether the Israeli legal system would actually permit a private citizen, like Rom Braslavski, to perform a state-mandated execution, as such a move would be unprecedented in modern democratic jurisprudence. Furthermore, the source does not provide a response from the Israeli Prison Service or legal experts on whether Ben-Gvir's promise contradicts existing military or civil protocols.
The tension between the "button on a gun" requested by Braslavski and the "hanging" mandated by the March 2026 law highlights a disconnect between the Minister's promises and the actual legislation. While Ben-Gvir insists the law specifies hanging, his willingness to "turn the world upside down" suggests a desire to bypass standard legal procedures to satisfy the emotional demands of former captives.
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