Knesset Approves Death Penalty Tribunal

The Israel — Knesset, Israel's parliament, approved a bill to establish a special tribunal with the authority to sentence to death Palestinians convicted of participating in the 2023 Hamas-led attack. The measure passed with widespread support, 93-0, reflecting a strong desire to punish those responsible for the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Rights groups, including HaMoked, Adalah, and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, have criticized the bill, arguing it makes the death penalty too easy to impose and compromises fair trial procedures. The bill's provisions for a majority vote by judges and livestreamed trials in Jerusalem have drawn comparisons to the 1962 trial of Adolf Eichmann. This new legislation is distinct from a previous law passed in March that approved the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, which is not retroactive. The 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, triggering Israel's offensive on Gaza Strip, which has resulted in over 72,628 Palestinian deaths.