Israeli Parliament Advances Death Penalty Bill for Militants

The Israeli parliament has taken a significant step towards the reinstatement of the death penalty for Palestinian militants convicted of killing Israeli citizens. In a recent vote, the Bill received approval with **39 lawmakers** voting in favor and **16 against**. This is only the first of several votes required for the measure to become law.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister, has been a vocal advocate for the Bill, urging all political factions to support it. He stated that the legislation aims to deter “Arab terrorism.” Following the initial vote held late on Monday, he declared, “This is how we fight terror; this is how we create deterrence. Once the law is finally passed, terrorists will be released only to hell.”

The Bill will now be reviewed by a parliamentary committee before undergoing a second and third vote. It faces uncertainty, as key political parties, including the opposition led by Yair Lapid, boycotted the initial vote. Lapid publicly stated that he would not support the Bill.

This move has drawn sharp criticism from both Palestinian leaders and human rights organizations. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) condemned the vote, with Palestinian National Council speaker Rawhi Fattouh describing the proposed law as “a political, legal, and humanitarian crime.” Hamas also voiced its opposition to the measure.

The death penalty for murder was abolished in Israel in **1954**, with the exception of the execution of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann in **1962**. Ben-Gvir argues that reinstating the death penalty would serve as a deterrent, particularly in light of the **October 7, 2023** attack led by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of nearly **1,200 people**, predominantly civilians, and the kidnapping of **251 hostages** taken to Gaza.

Amnesty International has raised concerns that the Bill would institutionalize systemic discrimination against Palestinians, labeling the proposal as a violation of human rights. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Israel’s military operations in Gaza reportedly killing over **69,000 Palestinians**, mostly civilians, according to local health officials.

A fragile ceasefire was reached last month, facilitating the release of **20 living hostages** held in Gaza and the remains of deceased individuals in exchange for nearly **2,000 Palestinians** incarcerated in Israel. Since the onset of hostilities in October 2023, Israel has released hundreds of Palestinian detainees in return for the hostages. Most hostages have been released, with only the remains of three deceased Israelis and one foreigner still outstanding.

Tzvika Foghel, a member of Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party and chair of the parliamentary national security committee, asserted that implementing the death penalty would eliminate the possibility of future prisoner exchange deals. Many of the Palestinians previously released in such deals had been convicted of serious offenses, including murder, while others had not faced any charges.

The debate surrounding the Bill reflects the heightened tensions in Israeli-Palestinian relations, particularly following the October attacks. Far-right politicians like Ben-Gvir have opposed releasing Palestinians associated with attacks on Israelis. Following the vote, Ben-Gvir celebrated by distributing sweets to fellow lawmakers, echoing a similar gesture by some Palestinian militants after the October attack.

As the Bill progresses through the legislative process, its implications for Israeli-Palestinian relations and the broader geopolitical landscape remain to be seen.