In a demonstration held in Haifa on May 31, Odeh sharply criticized the far-right Israeli government, claiming the country has become isolated internationally. “Israel has become a pariah state among the nations of the world, including in the West,” Odeh stated.
Reflecting on recent developments, Odeh added, “Today, after 600 days—20 months, there is now a majority among both peoples who wish those days had never happened. This marks a historic failure of right-wing ideology, which has been defeated in Gaza.”
In response to Odeh’s remarks, racist Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir Otzma Yehudit) submitted a formal request to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Saturday night, calling for the revocation of Odeh’s parliamentary immunity. This move would allow police to open an investigation into Odeh on charges of “incitement and support for terrorism”.
“These kinds of statements are not protected speech—they’re blatant incitement,” Ben Gvir said. “In any normal country, someone shouting ‘Gaza will win’ would be investigated immediately. The Knesset cannot be a refuge for terrorism supporters.” Otzma Yehudit MK Zvika Fogel on Sunday wrote a letter to Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, requesting that Odeh’s Israeli passport be revoked “immediately” and that he be deported to the Gaza Strip and revoke Odeh’s citizenship, and quipped: “I hope Minister Arbel will act quickly, and not repeat the slow conduct we saw in handling the deportation of terrorist families.”
Another anti-communist and far-right politician, Yisrael Beitenu party chair MK Avigdor Liberman said in a statement that “Odeh should be in Gaza, not in the Israeli Knesset.” Responding to Odeh’s speech, Likud MK Tally Gotliv called him on X a “terror supporter.” Energy Minister Eli Cohen (Likud) wrote on X that Odeh is “a fifth column and that his [parliamentary] immunity must be revoked and [he should] be sent to jail or to Gaza.”
Odeh doubled down and hit back at his critics, writing on X: “There is, and cannot be, victory over corpses of thousands of dead children, crushed families, starving civilians and total devastation. The right wing conducted this war out of blind vengeance and was defeated. It’s a defeat for Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, and anyone who thought an entire people could be defeated through starvation, bombardment and siege.” “Because annihilation is not victory. Life is victory. Only those who see Gazans as ‘terrorists from birth,’ like the government de facto does, can twist my words in this way. Yes, Gaza will win. Life will win.”
With information from maki.org.il
