Israeli Minister Confronts Hamas Terrorist in Prison, Vows Execution

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released a video showing him confronting Hamas terrorist Hassan Salameh, who is serving 48 life sentences for his role in suicide bombings that killed dozens of Israelis. The confrontation took place in prison, where Ben-Gvir directly told Salameh, "I want to execute you."

The video quickly gained widespread attention on Palestinian and Arab media channels, sparking outrage among Palestinians, including those not affiliated with Hamas. Hamas issued a formal statement condemning the video as a "showreel" by Ben-Gvir, whom they labeled an "extremist minister."

Hamas asserted that the threat against Salameh would not weaken the resolve of their prisoners. They accused Israel of turning prisons into "zones of direct physical liquidation" and violating international law. The statement vowed that Hamas would continue to exert all possible efforts to secure the release of their prisoners and warned that Ben-Gvir and other Israeli leaders would meet the fate of war criminals.

Salameh was convicted for his involvement in a series of suicide attacks following Israel's assassination of Hamas bomb engineer Yahya Ayyash in 1996. The article notes that the Israeli government's policy has transformed prisons into sites of direct physical elimination.