Itamar Ben-Gvir: The Minister of National Security led the youth wing of the Kach movement. You will eventually face trial.
Do current Israeli leaders see Palestinians as human beings?
Posted on May 10, 2026 by Dtesca
Itamar Ben-Gvir is not a human being.
The language used and policies implemented by key figures in the Israeli administration reinforce global concerns and academic findings that the fundamental human rights and dignity of Palestinians are being disregarded.
The statements made by high-ranking officials in the current Israeli administration regarding Palestinians have caused intense international debate and accusations of “dehumanization.” This situation is being evaluated particularly through official statements and policies that have become evident since October 7, 2023.
Here are some key approaches and prominent examples on this issue:
Official Discourses and the “Human-like Animals” Phras:
When announcing the decision for a full blockade of Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant used the phrase, “We are fighting human-like animals and acting accordingly,” referring to Palestinian armed groups and the population they are fighting in general. This statement has been harshly criticized by the United Nations and various human rights organizations as an example of “dehumanization,” including of civilians.
Approaches of Far-Right Ministers:
Figures such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have made statements in the past denying the existence of Palestinians or arguing that Jewish rights are superior to Palestinian rights. For example, Smotrich claimed that “there is no such thing as a Palestinian people.”
Ignoring Their Existence:
The fact that figures like former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett never mention Palestinians or the Palestinian issue in their speeches at international forums (such as the UN) has been interpreted by analysts as a policy of completely ignoring Palestinian identity and existence.
International Law and Criticisms:
United Nations Special Rapporteurs and human rights organizations characterize Israel’s military operations in Gaza and its settlement policies in the West Bank as “apartheid” (racial segregation), arguing that this system is fundamentally based on one group not seeing another as “equal human beings.”
Counter-Arguments:
Israeli government officials argue that such statements target only groups they define as terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, and not the entire population. However, the practices on the ground (civilian casualties, obstruction of humanitarian aid, etc.) make the credibility of this defense questionable in the eyes of the international community. [1, 2, 3, 4]
In summary, the language used by key figures in the Israeli administration and the policies implemented reinforce global concerns and academic findings that the fundamental human rights and dignity of Palestinians are being disregarded.
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