Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has intensified political tensions ahead of a crucial United Nations vote, saying senior leaders of the Palestinian Authority (PA) should be targeted and killed if the UN endorses the creation of an independent Palestinian state. His incendiary remarks come as the UN Security Council prepares to vote on a resolution linked to the Gaza ceasefire and a framework for Palestinian self-determination.

Speaking during a meeting of his far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party on Monday, Ben-Gvir labeled top PA officials “terrorists” and argued that any diplomatic progress toward Palestinian statehood should trigger “targeted assassinations” of PA leadership, according to several Israeli media reports.

Ben-Gvir Threatens Mahmoud Abbas With Imprisonment

Ben-Gvir went even further by saying that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should be arrested if the UN vote advances statehood recognition. He claimed that a solitary confinement cell in Israel’s Ketziot prison was already “prepared for him.”

The remarks mark one of the strongest public threats to PA leadership made by a senior Israeli official in years, reflecting a broader ideological push within Israel’s far-right government to prevent any path toward Palestinian sovereignty.

Palestinian Authorities: Statements Are ‘Systematic Incitement’

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned Ben-Gvir’s statements, describing them as part of a pattern of systematic incitement and intimidation directed by far-right Israeli officials against Palestinian leaders.

In a statement posted on X, the ministry urged the international community to react decisively and impose accountability measures on Israeli officials who threaten political violence.

The Palestinian presidency issued a separate statement holding the Israeli government responsible for Ben-Gvir’s rhetoric, framing it as a deliberate escalation intended to sabotage diplomatic efforts surrounding Gaza and Palestinian statehood.

UN Set to Vote on Gaza Ceasefire and Path Toward Statehood

The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution tied to a ceasefire plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. The proposal backs the formation of an international stabilisation force for Gaza and outlines support for a “credible pathway” toward Palestinian statehood.

The Israeli government, however, has been pushing U.S. negotiators to modify the resolution’s language to remove explicit references to Palestinian statehood—an issue that has become a political red line for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has repeatedly reassured his far-right coalition partners, including Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, that Israel will not accept the creation of a Palestinian state under any form of PA leadership.

Ben-Gvir Denies Palestinian Identity and Supports ‘Voluntary Migration’

Ben-Gvir’s comments on Monday follow remarks he made on Saturday, when he falsely claimed that “there is no such thing as a Palestinian people.” He said Palestinians were a “collection of immigrants from Arab countries” and accused them of spreading violence and terror.

He also renewed his support for the forced—or “voluntary”—migration of Palestinians from their land, a stance critics say openly advances the goal of ethnic cleansing.

These statements have intensified concerns about extremist rhetoric within Israel’s government and its implications for regional stability, human rights, and the prospects of future peace negotiations.

Far-Right Push for Annexation and Rejection of a Palestinian State

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich—who acts as a de facto authority over large areas of the occupied West Bank—has been advocating for the annexation of Palestinian territories in response to increasing international support for Palestinian statehood.

Across the Israeli political spectrum, from far-right parties to some centrist and right-leaning opposition figures, there is growing resistance to establishing a sovereign Palestinian state. Israeli leaders have also repeatedly stated they will not allow the PA to govern Gaza, despite U.S. and international pressure.

U.S. Plan Outlines New Governance Structure for Gaza

The American-backed proposal envisions Gaza being managed by an international “board of peace”, working alongside:

• a technocratic Palestinian administration,
• a multinational stabilisation force, and
• humanitarian oversight mechanisms.

Washington says the PA may have a role if it undergoes significant reforms.

Hamas and Gaza Factions Reject Governance Under Foreign Oversight

Armed Palestinian factions in Gaza, including Hamas, have fiercely rejected the draft UN resolution. They argue that it would:

• undermine Palestinian sovereignty,
• place Gaza under foreign administrative control,
• shift reconstruction authority to international bodies, and
• weaken Palestinian resistance.

They also insist that humanitarian aid must be managed by Palestinian institutions under UN supervision, not by foreign forces or external political bodies.

The factions reiterated their stance that Palestinians will not accept any arrangement that forces them to disarm or relinquish their right to resist occupation, and they called for international legal mechanisms to hold Israel accountable for alleged human rights violations.