Netanyahu Revokes Citizenship of Two Palestinians Convicted of Terrorism

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed orders this week to revoke the citizenship of two Palestinian citizens convicted of terrorism offenses, marking the first application of a 2023 law that allows for such measures and subsequent deportation. The men, both from East Jerusalem, face expulsion to the Gaza Strip or West Bank upon completion of their sentences, according to court filings and government statements.

The individuals targeted are Mahmoud Ahmed, convicted in 2021 for a series of shooting attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians, and Mohammad Ahmed Hussein al-Halasa, sentenced in 2016 to 16 years in prison for stabbing two elderly women in Jerusalem. Ahmed served a 23-year term and was released last year, while al-Halasa remains incarcerated with deportation set to follow his release in 2032 or later. Officials cited the severity of the attacks, along with payments the men allegedly received from a Palestinian Authority fund for prisoners, as justification under the law. The legislation, passed by the Knesset in February 2023, permits the revocation of citizenship or permanent residency for those convicted of acts deemed a breach of loyalty to Israel,...