Israel Passes Law Allowing Death Penalty for 7 October Attack Convictions
Israel's parliament has passed legislation that allows the death penalty and public trials for people convicted of carrying out the 7 October 2023 attacks, the BBC reported. The bill, championed by the governing coalition, was opposed by parts of the legal establishment and several international rights groups.
Israel's Knesset has passed legislation that permits the death penalty and public trials for people convicted of carrying out the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel, the BBC reported. The bill was promoted by ministers in the governing coalition and was approved after multiple readings in the parliament. Capital punishment in Israel had previously been available only for a narrow set of offences, principally those related to Nazi war crimes.
Supporters of the law argued that it provides a proportionate sentencing option for the gravest mass-casualty attacks and reflects public demand for accountability. Some senior figures within Israel's legal establishment, including former attorneys general, warned in public statements that the legislation could complicate efforts to negotiate the release of remaining hostages held in Gaza. Human-rights organisations including Amnesty International and the Israeli civil rights group ACRI also opposed the measure.
Hamas issued a statement condemning the law, calling it an obstacle to any hostage agreement. Several European Union officials said the legislation would be reviewed in the context of the bloc's bilateral cooperation. The first cases under the new framework are expected to involve detainees captured during and after the 7 October attacks who are currently held in Israeli custody.
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