Knesset Approves Tribunal with Death Penalty for Oct. 7 Suspects

Israeli lawmakers overwhelmingly approved legislation on Monday establishing a special military tribunal to prosecute Palestinians accused of direct involvement in the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, with authority to impose the death penalty.

The bill passed the 120-seat Knesset by a vote of 93 to 0, with 27 lawmakers absent or abstaining. Sponsored jointly by politicians from both the government coalition and opposition, including Simcha Rothman and Yulia Malinovsky, it creates a dedicated court in Jerusalem to handle cases against suspects, primarily from Hamas's Nukhba forces. Trials will feature modified evidentiary and procedural rules to manage the scale of prosecutions, with key moments such as openings, verdicts, and sentencings broadcast live on a public website. Charges may include murder, terrorism, sexual violence, and genocide, punishable by death upon a majority vote of a judicial panel.

The attacks killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 251 individuals taken hostage to Gaza, sparking Israel's military campaign in the territory. That offensive has resulted in more than 72,000 deaths, according to the Gaza Health Ministry,...