Ben‑Gvir Denounces High Court Decision to Allow Hamas Prisoners Visits, Warning of Security Risks

National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir criticized a High Court of Justice directive that for the first time since October 7 permits visits for Hamas (Nukhba) terrorists, a statement released on Monday said.

Ben‑Gvir argued that the decision would harm Israel’s security deterrence, pointing to what he described as the impact of tougher conditions for security prisoners.

“The High Court’s directive to allow visits to Nukhba terrorists for the first time since October 7 constitutes a direct blow to the State of Israel’s security deterrence,” Ben‑Gvir said.

He also linked a decline in terrorist attacks to reforms in prison conditions.

“The security reality is clear: there has been a decline of roughly 75 % in terrorist attacks, according to the Shin Bet, due in part to the reform of conditions for terrorists in prison,” he said.

Ben‑Gvir also accused the High Court of serving Israel’s enemies, saying, “Unfortunately, the High Court consistently serves as an address for appeals by the enemy, and as Justice Amit told petitioners in the case concerning the entry of goods into Gaza, ‘This court places itself at your disposal.’”

As national security minister, Ben‑Gvir has made tightening prison conditions for October 7 terrorists and advancing the death penalty for terrorists key priorities of his term.

When the death‑penalty‑for‑terrorists law first passed in April, Ben‑Gvir told The Jerusalem Post that the measure would help prevent another attack like the October 7 massacre, defending it amid international condemnation and saying it would align Israel with U.S. capital‑punishment policies.

Ben‑Gvir has continued to present harsher prison conditions and capital punishment as central elements of his approach to deterring terrorism. Speaking in August about an execution facility being built for terrorists, he said, “I promised to worsen the conditions of terrorists in prisons – we kept it. I promised to pass the Death Penalty for Terrorists Law – we did. And now the death row and hanging facility are also starting to take shape.”

Keshet Neev and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.

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