Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has renewed calls for a full-scale military offensive on Gaza, warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that continued restraint would jeopardize his government.

"I call on the prime minister to order the Israel [Occupation] Forces to fully resume combat operations in the sector with full force. The delusions that [the Palestinian Resistance] Hamas would change its ways or even adhere to the agreement it signed are proving, as expected, to be dangerous to our security. This neo-Nazi terrorist organization must be utterly destroyed, and the sooner, the better," Ben-Gvir said in a statement on Sunday.

His remarks came after Israeli military officials said militants in Rafah had fired sniper rounds and rocket-propelled grenades at Israeli positions, allegations that Hamas and the Al-Qassam Brigades have firmly denied. Reuters and other outlets report the Israeli strikes on Rafah were described by the army as a response to those alleged attacks, while Hamas reiterated that it was committed to the ceasefire and denied responsibility for the Rafah incidents. 

Al-Qassam's denial deepens the attribution dispute. In a fresh statement issued Sunday, the brigades reaffirmed their "full commitment" to the ceasefire and said they have "no knowledge of any events or clashes taking place in the Rafah area," adding that communications with their remaining units in Rafah have been completely severed since hostilities resumed in March 2025. The group described Rafah as under Israeli control, a "red area", and said it could not account for incidents or fighters there. 

Read more: Al-Qassam says committed to ceasefire, denies ties to Rafah operations

A Record of Incitement and Provocation

Ben-Gvir's latest comments are consistent with his long history of inflammatory rhetoric toward Palestinians. A former disciple of the outlawed Kahanist movement, he has been convicted of incitement to racism and support for a terrorist organization. As a politician, he has repeatedly advocated reoccupying Gaza, encouraging the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians, and imposing harsher conditions on prisoners.

In January, he declared that "Israel" should "conquer all of Gaza" and "eliminate every Hamas member," while earlier this year he dismissed global concerns over famine, saying he supported "starving Hamas in Gaza." His public remarks have often blurred the distinction between militants and civilians, reinforcing a narrative that frames Gaza's entire population as an enemy to be subdued.

Ben-Gvir has also been accused of abusing his authority to inflame tensions. During a prison visit, he reportedly taunted Palestinian political prisoner Marwan Barghouti by showing him a photograph of an electric chair. Human rights groups have denounced such behavior as psychological abuse and evidence of systemic dehumanization of Palestinians under Israeli control.

Coalition Tensions and Political Blackmail

The Police Minister has repeatedly weaponized his position to push Netanyahu further toward extremist policies. In early October, Ben-Gvir threatened to bring down the government if Hamas was not dismantled after the ceasefire's implementation, declaring that his Otzma Yehudit party would "topple the government" should Hamas "continue to exist under another guise." He later renewed this threat, urging a full-scale offensive and accusing the government of "dangerous delusions" for halting its assault.

These threats have become a central tool of blackmail within Netanyahu's fragile coalition, where far-right figures like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich openly dictate policy through coercion. Rather than resisting their pressure, Netanyahu has repeatedly acquiesced to escalation, a strategy widely viewed as an attempt to shore up his political survival and distract from the corruption trials threatening his grip on power.

Behind the rhetoric of "security," this alliance of convenience has prolonged Gaza's destruction, showing that Netanyahu's continued aggression is less about national defense than about preserving his own rule amid mounting legal and political peril.

A Bleak Outlook for Palestinians

In Gaza, Palestinians continue to endure catastrophic conditions. The enclave remains under blockade, its infrastructure in ruins, and essential supplies scarce. Hospitals operate at minimal capacity, while thousands remain displaced amid widespread famine warnings.

For many, Ben-Gvir's call to "utterly destroy" Hamas is indistinguishable from a call to annihilate Gaza itself.