Israel's Ben-Gvir Forms Special Police Unit To Persecute Leftist Activists In West Bank

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced the formation of a special police unit on Tuesday to persecute Israeli leftist activists who show solidarity with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

In a statement on his X account, Ben-Gvir described his announcement as "an important step" to remove what he called "anarchists who interfere with the security forces and public order."

The move followed sanctions imposed by the US, France, and the UK on illegal Israeli settlers who carry out violent attacks against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the special police unit contains military interrogators, who will work in cooperation with the police.

The media outlet, citing a security source, said the police unit has been working for two weeks now and has already arrested a number of people, without providing any further details.

Ben-Gvir's police unit will also target foreign activists who come to the West Bank to show solidarity with Palestinians, the newspaper said.

Israeli human rights group Peace Now condemned the formation of the police unit as a "fascist step."

The attempt by "the convicted terrorist Ben-Gvir to keep activists away from the West Bank is a dangerous fascist step taken by dark regimes," it added on X.

Tensions have been high across the occupied West Bank amid ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which left more than 33,800 people dead since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.

At least 468 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire in the West Bank since then, according to the Health Ministry.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara -