Death penalty bill to include Palestinians imprisoned for 7 October, Ben Gvir says Submitted by Mera Aladam on Fri, 12/19/2025 - 09:14 Latest edits to the proposed law replace the requirement for unanimous decision on Palestinian detainees' execution with a simple majority of judges Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir walks through the Old City of Jerusalem on 26 May 2025 (Menahem Kahana/AFP) Off Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has published an updated version of the so-called "Death Penalty for Terrorists Bill" that would allow the state to execute Palestinian detainees accused of involvement in the 7 October attacks. In a post on X, the far-right minister published a series of new provisions and further details to the proposed death penalty bill, which is expected to go through two more readings in the Knesset, including one next week, before being passed into official law. The bill, initiated by MP Limor Son Har Melech of the Ben Gvir-led Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, initially aimed to allow judges to impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis on so-called "nationalistic" grounds. The legislation would not apply to Israelis who kill Palestinians under similar circumstances. A new addition announced by Ben Gvir expands the draft legislation to include those accused of perpetrating attacks on 7 October 2023, who will receive the death penalty as a "mandatory sentence". The sentencing will be classified as "genocide under the Genocide Law", Ben Gvir wrote, adding that the court will not be "bound by the prosecution's position". Once a detainee has been officially accused of their involvement, they will be executed within 90 days by the Israel Prison Service (IPS). Amongst other details outlined is the mandatory death penalty for so-called "terrorists" in the occupied West Bank , with the bill authorising military courts to impose execution regardless of the prosecution's position. Israel's Ben Gvir wears noose pendant as he pushes death penalty bill for Palestinians Read More » The latest draft also abolishes the requirement for a unanimous decision, noting that a regular majority of the panel judges will suffice to decide to execute a Palestinian detained under allegations of terrorism. This would mean that judges do not need to be of high ranking within the military and that army commanders in the area do not have the ability to mitigate, commute or cancel the sentence once it is approved by a majority of judges. Several methods have been proposed for the manner of conducting executions of Palestinians, including killing by shooting, electric chair, hanging or lethal injection. The identity of the prison guard appointed to carry out the killing by IPS will remain confidential. 'Legalising killings' Israeli law currently allows the death penalty in certain cases, but it has not been carried out since the Nazi officer Adolf Eichmann was executed in 1962 for his role in the Holocaust. The bill was approved in its first reading in November by a majority of 39 out of 120 Knesset members, with 16 voting against in Israel's parliament. Rights groups have strongly opposed the controversial bill in light of Israel's widespread arrest of Palestinians on loose terrorism charges and a surge in reports of torture and deaths of detainees since it began its genocidal war on Gaza . Palestinian prisoners speak out about how they were raped in Israeli jails Read More » At least 9,300 Palestinians are currently reported to be held in Israeli prisons, though the real figure is likely higher, as Israel withholds information on hundreds of people its army seized in Gaza. A " record high " number of 110 Palestinians have died under prison policies implemented by Ben Gvir since he took office two and a half years ago. Palestinian groups say the actual number is likely higher. Palestinian prisoners' rights groups - the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club - described the bill to execute Palestinian prisoners as an " unprecedented act of savagery ". The groups accused Israel of aiming to legalise the ongoing killing of prisoners through the bill, saying its approval "is no longer surprising in light of the unprecedented level of savagery practised by the occupation system". Israeli authorities have previously charged Palestinians under the country's terrorism legislation for their involvement in peaceful activism or humanitarian work. Multiple international rights groups have warned that Israel’s use of such laws is often based on "extremely vague or unsubstantiated reasons". Occupation News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0