Itamar Ben Gvir fined by Israel elections commission

Israel’s Central Elections Committee has fined National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir for publishing a video on X that was deemed electoral propaganda. The footage shows Ben Gvir confronting Hassan Salameh, a convicted Hamas official serving multiple life sentences for deadly attacks in 1996, in which the minister threatened to “put to death” or “execute” him.

The commission ruled that Ben Gvir violated election rules by using his official government activities and public funds to campaign for the upcoming October 27 vote. As a result, Ben Gvir has been ordered to delete the video and pay 10,000 shekels to each of the two rights groups that filed the petition, totaling 20,000 shekels.

The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel welcomed the decision, stating they hope such rulings will deter the minister from using prisons as a platform for election propaganda.