Ben Gvir says stun grenades should be only be used in ‘exceptional cases,’ despite endorsing use at anti-government protests

After police use stun grenades to disperse a Haredi anti-draft protest, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir says the crowd control weapon should be used only in “exceptional cases” — despite having endorsed the same measure against anti-government protesters.

Claiming there has been an increase in police use of stun grenades against civilians, the far-right politician says he will hold an “urgent meeting” to ensure law enforcement employs the measure only in “exceptional cases and in accordance with police regulations.”

“If their use is not limited to these cases, there will be no stun grenades in the police,” he writes on X.

The ultranationalist minister’s sudden opposition to police use of stun grenades stands in stark contrast to his previous support for cops who employed the dispersal tool against anti-government demonstrators.

Ben Gvir gave public backing to police who threw stun grenades into a crowd of anti-government protesters in Tel Aviv during a March 2023 demonstration, which led to the hospitalization of two demonstrators.

The police commander at the scene, Supt. Meir Suissa, was indicted and later convicted for throwing a stun grenade that hit a protester in the face, causing injuries and facial disfigurement that required cosmetic surgery to fix.

Following the incident, Ben Gvir tried to promote Suissa and put him in charge of the South Tel Aviv police station, but the move was struck down by the Jerusalem District Court.