Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, celebrated his 50th birthday with a cake featuring a golden noose, just over a month after his successful campaign to introduce the death penalty for Palestinian terrorist convicts.
Birthday Celebration Sparks Controversy
Footage on social media showed Ben-Gvir receiving a cake from his wife Ayala, adorned with a golden noose and a message that read: 'Happy Birthday, sometimes dreams come true,' according to translations. The minister wore a golden noose pin as his wife handed him the cake at a villa in southern Israel, an event attended by senior Israeli officials and police figures.
The golden noose has become a core symbol for Ben-Gvir's far-right party, Otzma Yehudit, which campaigned exclusively for the death penalty for Palestinian terrorism convicts. Many politicians wore the pin while attending Knesset during the campaign.
Death Penalty Legislation Passed
Israel's legislature passed a law at the end of March making death by hanging the default sentence for terrorism-related offences. The death penalty for ordinary crimes has been abolished in Israel since 1954, and the country has not carried out executions since 1962. Human rights organizations and world leaders have criticized the legislation as discriminatory, arguing it will primarily affect West Bank Palestinians.
Foreign ministers from Australia, Germany, France, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement before the vote, expressing concern that the law 'risks undermining Israel's commitments with regards to democratic principles.' The bill passed with a final vote of 62-48, prompting Ben-Gvir to celebrate with a bottle of champagne.
Police Attendance Criticized
Ben-Gvir's birthday party was attended by several senior officers from the Israeli police and prison service, drawing controversy amid record-high homicide levels in Israel. Just two days before the celebrations, two men in their thirties were shot dead in central Israel, bringing the year's death toll to 111, including 95 Arab citizens, as reported by Haaretz.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett called on police officers not to attend the event. In a post on X, he wrote: 'Any public servant, in any role and in any government body, who violates their duty of loyalty to the state and exploits their position in a political rather than a state-serving manner will be immediately dismissed.' Ben-Gvir retorted on X: 'Naftali has no friends, and also no work relationships — send him a cake from the party.'
The event was also attended by right-wing activist Benzi Gopstein, convicted for inciting racism in 2024 after being charged for inciting violence, racism, and support for terrorism in 2019. Gopstein and his affiliated groups have been sanctioned by Singapore, the UK, Canada, and the former Biden administration for acts of violence against Palestinian and Arab communities. Ben-Gvir's personal aide, Osher Gabay, and far-right activist Mordechai David were also present, according to Haaretz.
