Ben-Gvir's 'Victory' Lap: Al-Aqsa, Gaza, and Western Silence
While Al-Monitor notes Itamar Ben-Gvir's prayer at Al-Aqsa and his demand for 'complete victory' in Gaza, this isn't just a routine political statement. This is the same Ben-Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, who has previously called for ethnic cleansing, (as documented by Human Rights Watch), intensifying settlement expansion, and has a conviction for supporting a designated terrorist
organization. His presence at the highly contested Al-Aqsa mosque compound—a frequent flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often leading to violent clashes—is not a prayer but a deliberate assertion of dominance and religious provocation, perfectly aligned with his long-stated extremist agenda. This 'victory' Ben-Gvir champions involves over 35,000 Palestinian deaths (UN OCHA), widespread
destruction of infrastructure, and mass displacement. Yet, international bodies and most Western media frame such pronouncements from Israeli officials as internal politics, rather than explicit calls to escalate what many human rights organizations deem war crimes. How many times can a global leader signal intent for further devastation from a contested holy site before the international
community acknowledges their actual, clear intentions?