Israel Advances Death Penalty Bill for Palestinians

The Knesset National Security Committee has advanced a far-right bill to a possible first reading that would allow courts to impose the death penalty for “nationalistically motivated” murders of Israeli citizens, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backing the measure. The proposal was introduced by far-right lawmakers including Itamar Ben Gvir and Limor Son Har‑Melech; Ben Gvir has pushed for removing judicial discretion to maximize deterrence. Government hostage coordinator Gal Hirsch, who had opposed the bill while hostages remained in Gaza, told the committee he now supports it following the return of all living hostages. Human-rights groups warn the proposal deepens concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, noting more than 10,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons amid reports of torture, starvation, medical neglect and deaths in custody. Critics also point out the bill would not apply to Israelis who kill Palestinians and that it must still pass three Knesset readings, raising major legal and human-rights questions as it moves forward.