Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem said that the Israeli government’s decision to honor a rabbi who publicly celebrated the destruction of Palestinian homes in Gaza reflects a deeper shift in which the erasure of Palestinians has become embedded in Israel’s national narrative.
The group said the move signals a normalization of policies and rhetoric that human rights organizations have long warned, amount to grave violations of international law.
The criticism came after Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev selected Avraham Zarbiv — a rabbi who served as a reserve bulldozer operator in Gaza and filmed himself demolishing civilian structures — to light a ceremonial torch during Israel’s 78th “Independence Day” event.
The torch‑lighting ceremony is one of Israel’s most symbolic national rituals, traditionally reserved for individuals presented as embodying the “spirit of the nation.”
B’Tselem said the government’s choice “cannot be separated from the broader context of the war on Gaza,” noting that Zarbiv had previously appeared in televised interviews boasting that Palestinians in Rafah and Jabalia “have nothing to return to — no documents, no childhood photos, no identity cards, no homes.”
According to the organization, these statements were made while he was actively demolishing civilian buildings during reserve service.
The group said that elevating a figure who documented himself destroying Palestinian neighborhoods — and who publicly framed that destruction as a source of pride — reflects how deeply the dehumanization of Palestinians has taken root in Israeli public life.
B’Tselem added that the decision illustrates a climate in which actions that would typically be investigated as war crimes are instead celebrated as national achievements.
Avraham Zarbiv – a settler, soldier, rabbi, rabbinical judge, and school leader known for gleefully documenting his bulldozing of besieged Gaza – was a torchbearer in Israel’s official “Independence Day” celebrations. pic.twitter.com/ZZNJB30750
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 21, 2026
Other human rights groups echo concern
Several Palestinian and international human rights organizations responded to B’Tselem’s statement, saying the government’s decision aligns with a broader pattern of impunity and official endorsement of policies that have devastated civilian life in Gaza.
Al‑Haq, the Ramallah‑based human rights organization, said the torch‑lighting decision “reinforces a culture of impunity” and reflects a political environment in which the destruction of civilian infrastructure is framed as a legitimate or even heroic act.
Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel said the selection of Zarbiv “sends a dangerous message that state institutions are willing to reward individuals involved in actions that raise serious legal and ethical concerns,” adding that the move “further erodes the distinction between civilian and military spheres.”
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, while not commenting directly on the torch‑lighting ceremony, have repeatedly documented the destruction of civilian areas in Gaza and warned that Israeli policies amount to collective punishment and may constitute war crimes.
Zarbiv’s role in Gaza and the West Bank
According to B’Tselem, Zarbiv currently serves as a judge in the rabbinical court in the Ariel colony near Salfit in the central West Bank and heads a pre‑military academy in the Beit El colony north of occupied Jerusalem. The organization said this dual role — religious authority and military educator — amplifies the political significance of his public statements and actions.
B’Tselem added that Zarbiv spent hundreds of days in reserve duty in Gaza since October 2023, during which he filmed himself demolishing civilian structures. In several videos, he is seen blowing a shofar, reciting prayers, and reading from the Torah while operating the bulldozer. The organization said he repeatedly called for the destruction of the entire Gaza Strip and posted numerous clips showing him leveling Palestinian homes.
“A message to Israelis and the world”
B’Tselem said that selecting Zarbiv to light a national torch — a role meant to symbolize exemplary citizenship — sends a clear message to Israelis and to the international community: that the destruction of Gaza, the displacement of its population, and the rhetoric of erasure are no longer fringe positions but are being woven into the state’s official identity.
Human rights groups said the decision underscores the urgent need for independent international investigations into the conduct of Israeli forces in Gaza and the broader policies that have shaped the conflict.
