Israeli Firebrand Minister Ben-Gvir Calls For Abduction Of Lebanese Women To Pressure Hezbollah

Published 9 June 2026 · politics

Israeli Firebrand Minister Ben-Gvir Calls For Abduction Of Lebanese Women To Pressure Hezbollah Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 22:19 IST Ben-Gvir urged ministers

Israeli Firebrand Minister Ben-Gvir Calls For Abduction Of Lebanese Women To Pressure Hezbollah Published By, Last Updated: June 09, 2026, 22:19 IST Ben-Gvir urged ministers to adopt more aggressive measures against Hezbollah as Israel weighs an expansion of its military operations in Lebanon. Israel's far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. (AFP photo) Israel’s far-right Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has sparked fresh controversy after reportedly calling for the detention of Lebanese women and young people as a way to pressure Hezbollah during a high-level security cabinet meeting. According to reports from Hebrew news outlet Walla, Ben-Gvir urged ministers to adopt more aggressive measures against Hezbollah as Israel weighs an expansion of its military operations in Lebanon. He reportedly argued that Israel should move beyond conventional military tactics and directly target the social networks surrounding the Iran-backed group. ‘Outside The Box’ Measures “We must think outside the box regarding Hezbollah,," Ben-Gvir told fellow ministers, according to the report.

The minister reportedly said that alongside military operations and strikes on Hezbollah fighters, Israel should detain Lebanese civilians linked to the group’s support base. “Conquering territory and killing many terrorists, but also detaining their women and youth and taking them to terrorist prisons," he was quoted as saying. “That’s what hurts them the most," he added. Controversy Amid Italian Probe The comments are the latest in a series of controversies involving Ben-Gvir, one of the most hardline figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Earlier today, he urged Israeli civilians to arm themselves following a shooting attack in Kochav Yair that left one person dead and several others injured. “Weapons save lives," Ben-Gvir said, while also calling for tougher action against what he called as groups “undermining the state." Israeli Security Minister Ben-Gvir:Weapons for civilians. All the time, all the time, weapons save lives. I tell citizens and residents: go arm yourselves.

It saves lives. pic.twitter.com/VaKThsRoY5 — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 9, 2026 His latest remarks also come as Italian prosecutors investigate Ben-Gvir over the treatment of activists detained during a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israel in international waters in May. More than 430 activists from various countries were detained after Israeli forces stopped the vessel. Italian media reports said Ben-Gvir is being investigated on suspicion of kidnapping and torture involving Italian citizens who were among those detained. The minister had earlier drawn condemnation after posting a video mocking the activists while their hands were bound. Responding to the Italian investigation, Ben-Gvir dismissed the probe and said he would continue to support Israeli security forces. “I will not shy away from one investigation or another and will continue to stand proudly alongside our fighters," he said. “The land of the boot has become the land of the flip-flop," he added, referring to Italy’s geographical shape, which resembles a boot.